The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed concern over the woefully inadequate volume of humanitarian aid reaching Gaza. Despite the recent entry of 81 trucks carrying aid through Israel’s Kerem Shalom and Egypt’s Rafah crossings, OCHA noted that the aid volume remains insufficient.
Security incidents, including drone strikes and the seizure of aid by desperate locals, have impacted aid delivery. The Kerem Shalom Crossing had been closed for three days due to security concerns. The UN agency highlighted the challenges of delivering mass aid amid ongoing Israeli Defense Forces operations in Gaza. The IDF, on the other hand, cited UN facilitators’ failure to keep up with inspections as a bottleneck factor. Although the Kerem Shalom Crossing was opened on December 17, direct aid delivery from Israel hasn’t significantly increased.