The United Nations has issued a warning that alleviating the famine in the Gaza Strip will require time and the opening of all crossings to “flood Gaza with food”. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) reported that nearly 3,000 tonnes of food have been delivered to the conflict-ravaged region since a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was established.WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa, speaking at a media briefing in Geneva, emphasized the challenges ahead, stating, “It’s going to take some time to scale back the famine,” which the UN declared in late August. “The ceasefire has opened a narrow window of opportunity. WFP is moving very quickly and swiftly to scale up food assistance and reach families who have endured months of blockade, displacement and hunger,” she added.Currently, the WFP has established five food distribution points in the Gaza Strip, primarily in the southern region, with plans to increase this number to 145. Recent days have seen the use of the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings to facilitate the delivery of aid. From Saturday to Wednesday, approximately 230 trucks carrying 2,800 tonnes of food supplies entered Gaza, according to Etefa.
On Thursday, two convoys consisting of 57 trucks delivered wheat flour and nutritional supplies, which arrived safely at WFP warehouses and are ready for distribution. Despite these efforts, Etefa acknowledged that more aid is needed but expressed optimism about progress. “We’re still below what we need but we’re getting there,” she said.As of Wednesday, nine bakeries are operational, with plans to increase this number to 30 across the Gaza Strip. “Bread is extremely important. The smell of fresh bread in Gaza is more than nourishment: it’s a signal that life is returning,” Etefa remarked.Etefa urged the opening of all land crossings into Gaza to facilitate the delivery of food supplies, emphasizing that quicker aid delivery would save more lives. The WFP has begun distributing nutritional supplies in Gaza City, focusing on families returning to the northern region.The WFP aims to reach 1.6 million people in Gaza over the next three months. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also called for the opening of all access points to deliver life-saving aid and alleviate the dire conditions. They stressed the importance of safe and unimpeded access to ensure assistance reaches all communities, including those in the north, and called for international support for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, which remains a crucial lifeline for the people of Gaza despite ongoing challenges.
