On 19 August, World Humanitarian Day was observed amid a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where residents are on the brink of famine.

Individual donations and the international aid received by the organization have decreased compared to the early days of the nearly 11-month war in Gaza, the recently appointed executive director of the ERCS indicated in an interview with Ahram Online to mark the day.

The ERCS has been responsible for receiving local and international humanitarian and medical aid to deliver to over two million Palestinians in the strip under Israeli bombardment and blockade since 7 October 2023.

Therefore, Egypt has designated North Sinai's Arish International Airport since late 2023 as a receiving point for international humanitarian assistance to be delivered to Gaza. Today, ERCS receives aid from eight seaports and two airports.

Egypt, represented by the ERCS, used to deliver the aid via the Rafah border crossing until last May when Israel launched its assault on Rafah, taking over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.

Since May, Egypt has started to send aid temporarily through the Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing until Israel withdraws from the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.

In August 2024, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported a reduction in the volume of aid entering Gaza through the operational border crossings by more than half since the closure of the Rafah crossing in May, with the number of trucks decreasing from 169 per day to 80.

The decline, which reached 80 percent at the Karm Abu Salem crossing, has been more severe over the past three months.

According to OCHA, between 1 and 12 August 2024, around 76 humanitarian trucks only entered the Gaza Strip daily, which is well below the pre-crisis average of 500 trucks per working day.

Ahram Online: Is the Red Crescent still receiving and delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, despite reports of halted aid from abroad due to storage issues?

Amal Emam: The Red Crescent has never stopped its efforts to receive and deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. However, the opening or closing of the Rafah border crossing does affect the delivery of this aid.

Egypt sends aid through two crossings: Rafah and Karm Abu Salem. Due to ongoing operations in the area, the Rafah crossing has been closed, which has impacted its operation. Nevertheless, aid continues to be sent through Karm Abu Salem via UN organizations.

AO: Can Karm Abu Salem handle the same number of trucks that used to enter through Rafah?

AE: Karm Abu Salem is designated for truck entry, while Rafah is designated for individuals. The Egyptian state has made significant efforts to re-equip Rafah to allow aid entry and individual movement.

However, the issue is not only about the crossing but also about other challenges on the other side due to military operations.

Even if the Rafah crossing is open, conditions sometimes do not allow aid entry due to potential risks to the aid or the individuals transporting it.

This has been a significant challenge since 7 May, when military operations began near the southern Gaza Strip.

AO: How does the current number of trucks sent to Gaza compare to those sent since the outbreak of the war on 7 October?

AE: There were times when the flow of aid increased when security conditions permitted. For example, during the ceasefire period, around 300 trucks entered daily.

The capacity to transport trucks from Egypt to Gaza also depends on street congestion with displaced people and ongoing military operations in southern Gaza. These operations affect the number of trucks due to their impact on the ability to transport aid.

  Number of aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip per day during November and December 2023                                                                        Source: UNRWA

  Number of aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip per day during July and August 2024                                                                                           Source: UNRWA

AO: Are any types of aid being rejected, and has the nature of aid changed due to evolving conditions in Gaza?

AE: Yes. Some aid is rejected, but there is no specific list. For instance, dual-use items that could be used for non-essential purposes, such as oxygen cylinders or equipment containing metals, might be rejected.

Sometimes, it is rejected due to non-compliance with packaging and labelling standards, shared by ERCS’s designed and frequently updated SOPs. 

The war has affected all sectors of Gaza, leaving us without the luxury of choice.

We cannot specify that one type of aid is more needed; all basic items are critical, including food, water, medicine, and various relief supplies like tents.

AO: Have international aid and individual donations decreased, or are they still the same?

AE: Both have decreased. However, some countries have opted to send aid in cash.

Individual donations have decreased significantly due to the challenges and circumstances surrounding aid delivery to Gaza.

However, awareness campaigns and calls for support continue, as the scale of destruction in Gaza demands effective contributions, especially as their aid needs grow daily.

AO: What services do Red Crescent logistical centres provide for storing aid, and what is their storage capacity?

AE: Logistical centres manage humanitarian aid by receiving, packaging, labelling, and prioritizing it according to standards that allow entry through various crossings into Gaza.

Our largest logistical centre, established after the conflict began, is located in Arish City and is responsible for receiving aid via maritime, aerial, or land routes.

The storage capacity is continuously increasing. We have significantly expanded our capacity to handle the growing volume of aid.

This expansion involves a substantial effort by the Egyptian state and the ERCS, making Egypt a primary conduit for aid into Gaza.

We have received over 800 aircraft and 300 ships carrying humanitarian aid and managed to deliver more than 22,000 trucks to the strip.

AO: What are the procedures for receiving and storing aid, and how long does it take to sort it?

AE: Procedures vary depending on the aid type and entry point. Each type of aid follows specific protocols and agreed standards.

At the ERCS, we repackage and palletise various types of aid to comply with these protocols and facilitate its delivery to Gaza.

The time required varies based on whether the aid is food, medical, or relief supplies, with different processes and timeframes for each type.

AO: Does the Egyptian Red Crescent play a role in delivering aid to Sudan, or are other entities responsible?

AE: We do play a role in aid for Sudan. The ERCS has been the primary national responder at the Egyptian-Sudanese border since 17 April, and we have not ceased operations at the Qastal and Arqin crossings.

Our teams are present to receive displaced persons from Sudan into Egypt and provide essential needs such as water, food, medical services, transportation, and support for the elderly. We have also assisted in sending two ships with humanitarian aid to Sudan.

AO: Does the type of aid for Sudan differ from that for Gaza?

AE: In wartime, humanitarian aid is generally categorized into three main types: food, medicine, and relief. Its nature varies based on the extent of destruction.

While in Gaza, where the level of destruction is substantial, there is a significant need for increased numbers of tents alongside food and medical assistance, Sudan's situation demands a greater emphasis on food aid.