Amid the suffocating blockade on the Gaza Strip, the suffering of Palestinians living in catastrophic conditions continues to worsen. In recent weeks, the area has witnessed the widespread destruction of infrastructure and homes, in addition to aerial bombardments that have claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians.
In these difficult circumstances, humanitarian aid emerges as the only hope for Gaza’s citizens. However, the distribution of this aid remains fraught with challenges, both logistical and political. Various countries and humanitarian organisations are providing support to Gaza, including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. However, there are economic and other challenges hindering the effectiveness of this aid.
Despite ongoing international and regional efforts to provide humanitarian support to the Gaza Strip, many civilians have not received the aid they so desperately need. Amid the harsh conditions that the people of Gaza are living through, citizens have been sharing their stories of daily suffering due to the lack of basic aid.
Umm Sami from Gaza said that “we’ve heard about the arrival of aid, but we haven’t seen anything here. We are a family of seven, and we haven’t found the food or medicine we need. We don’t know where to go or who can help us.”
Umm Sami’s words summarise the difficult situation that many families in the Strip are facing.
Mahmoud Jaber from Khan Younis expresses his despair, saying that “every day we hear about aid shipments entering through the Rafah Crossing, but we haven’t been able to receive anything. The children here are suffering from hunger, and hospitals don’t have the necessary medicines. The situation has become unbearable.”
His suffering points to the significant challenges that families face in obtaining basic care.
Sarah Abdullah from Khan Younis shares her concerns. “I expected the aid to reach us quickly, but we haven’t benefited from anything so far. We live in constant worry, and our children need urgent medical care, but nothing is reaching us.” This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of coordination between the bodies responsible for distributing aid.
Yusuf Al-Zuhairi from Rafah expressed his loss of hope, saying that “we’ve lost hope that aid will reach us. So far, we haven’t seen any of what we hear about through the media. We are in urgent need of food, water, and medical supplies, but nothing is coming to us.”
These words highlight the gap between what is announced about aid reaching Gaza and what actually arrives to civilians.
Such testimonies are just a few of the many stories of citizens living under harsh conditions, where humanitarian aid remains insufficient or irregular, worsening their suffering. The people of Gaza urgently need a response from the international community to ensure that aid reaches all affected areas quickly and effectively.
The ongoing blockade imposed on Gaza by Israel is one of the primary factors impacting the delivery of humanitarian aid. Although border crossings have been opened intermittently, strict restrictions remain on the entry of essential supplies like medicines and medical equipment, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Many food items and medical supplies do not reach the Strip due to these restrictions, and the health sector is facing severe shortages of medicines and equipment.
Philippe Locher, a spokesperson for the United Nations, said in a statement that “we are facing significant difficulties in delivering aid due to the blockade and restrictions on the crossings. Despite our efforts, there are still areas we cannot reach, which increases the suffering of the Palestinians.”
Egypt plays a crucial role in facilitating the passage of aid to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing, a vital lifeline for humanitarian assistance. Egypt has opened the crossing several times to receive humanitarian convoys coming from different countries, including medicine and food supplies.
Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt’s minister of health, said that “Egypt is making every possible effort to support the Palestinian people, and we are working to facilitate the passage of aid through Rafah, whether from international organisations or humanitarian convoys.”
However, despite Egypt’s significant role, security and political challenges still limit aid from reaching all areas of Gaza.
OUTSIDE SUPPORT
Qatar and Saudi Arabia have recently provided significant financial support to Gaza, with Qatar pledging millions of dollars to support humanitarian programmes, including medical and food aid.
Mubarak bin Mohamed Al-Hajri, Qatar’s ambassador to Cairo, said that “Qatar continues its commitment to providing full support to the Palestinian people, and we are working with various humanitarian organisations to ensure that aid reaches the affected areas as quickly as possible.”
Saudi Arabia has provided similar support through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, which is one of the largest contributors of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Abdullah Al-Rabiah, supervisor of the centre, said that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring the situation in Gaza, and we are committed to ongoing support, including food and medical aid.”
Despite the substantial support from the Gulf countries, political pressures in the region sometimes create obstacles. The rapprochement between some Arab countries and Israel following the so-called Abraham Accords could affect the coordination of aid delivery.
The UAE continues to provide support to Gaza through international humanitarian organisations like the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, despite political shifts in the region. Following the Abraham Accords, questions have arisen regarding the impact of these new relations on the quality of aid provided.
Mohamed Al-Balushi, the UAE’s director of humanitarian aid, said that “we remain committed to providing support, and we are working with international organisations to ensure aid reaches all areas of the Gaza Strip.”
Despite continued Emirati support, political relations with Israel are under close scrutiny, and these relations may influence future humanitarian strategies.
Humanitarian organisations like the Palestinian Red Crescent and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) are key players in delivering relief, but they face significant field challenges. The destruction of many medical facilities due to continuous bombardment makes it difficult to provide adequate healthcare.
Dalia Al-Faqi, head of the MSF office in Gaza, said that “access to the most affected areas has become increasingly difficult due to ongoing airstrikes. With many hospitals destroyed, we are in dire need of more medical supplies.”
The destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, including factories, shops, and farms, has worsened the economic crisis in the region. While Gaza’s residents rely heavily on external aid, the destruction of these facilities has led to rising poverty and unemployment rates.
Mamdouh Al-Rifai, a Palestinian economic expert, said that “the economic situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Small businesses and factories that provided employment for many people have been completely destroyed. The economic consequences will be long-term if adequate support is not provided to rebuild the sector.”
The division between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA) also raises questions about effective aid coordination. At times, aid delivery is conditional on cooperation with local authorities, which causes delays or restrictions on assistance in some areas. These political differences make coordination between factions in Gaza complicated, ultimately affecting the effectiveness of the aid.
Nadia Al-Khatib, a humanitarian coordinator in Gaza, said that “political disagreements between Palestinian factions complicate coordination with humanitarian organisations. Palestinians need unity now more than ever to ensure the fair distribution of aid.”
HEALTH SITUATION
The health sector in Gaza is facing a major crisis due to bombings that have targeted hospitals and health centres. Many hospitals are operating below capacity due to shortages of medicines and equipment. Concerns are growing about the spread of diseases due to deteriorating health conditions.
Mohamed Abu Zeid, a doctor at a Gaza Hospital, said that “hospitals are filled with casualties, and we are working at full capacity to treat the injured. However, essential medical supplies are rapidly running out, and we urgently need more support.”
Meanwhile, the media plays a crucial role in highlighting the suffering of Gaza’s residents, and media campaigns have helped increase international pressure for more aid. This media role has contributed to raising awareness in the international community about the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Leila Al-Jamal, a Palestinian journalist, said that “the global media has helped raise awareness about the crisis in Gaza. The pressure placed on governments through media outlets has accelerated some aid measures.”
While the United Nations and other organisations continue to provide support, the international community faces ongoing challenges in improving coordination and ensuring aid reaches those in need. Political differences continue to influence humanitarian efforts, reducing their effectiveness.
The UN continues to issue warnings about the severity of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with providing humanitarian aid being a top priority at this time. However, the UN faces significant challenges due to restrictions at the borders and logistical difficulties in reaching the most affected areas.
Philippe Locher, the UN spokesperson, stated in a press release that “we are facing significant difficulties in delivering aid due to the blockade and restrictions on the crossings. Despite our efforts, there are still areas we cannot access, which increases the suffering of the Palestinians.”
The UN continues to work closely with its humanitarian agencies on the ground, such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), to provide urgent aid to the affected citizens. However, security and logistical challenges remain a major obstacle to the relief process.
Regarding coordination between the involved parties, UN officials have stressed the need for collaborative efforts between countries and local and international organisations to avoid complications or obstacles that could impact the effectiveness of aid delivery.
António Guterres, secretary general of the UN, said that “it is essential for the international community to move together to deliver humanitarian aid. This issue must transcend all political considerations to ensure aid reaches those in need without hindrance.”
In addition to field and logistical challenges, humanitarian aid to Gaza also faces obstacles due to regional conflicts in the Middle East. The divisions between Arab countries and ongoing regional tensions directly impact the coordination of aid between different countries and humanitarian organisations. These disagreements complicate the aid delivery process, as the political stances of various countries influence strategies and priorities.
Ahmed Abdullah, an international relations researcher, said that “political shifts in the region, such as the rapprochement between some Arab countries and Israel, negatively affect the coordination and collaboration in delivering aid to Gaza. We need a unified vision among Arab countries and the international community to ensure aid reaches Gaza without delays or obstacles.”
In addition to the restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, reports indicate that there have been cases of theft and confiscation of aid by Israeli forces while it passes through border crossings. These aid shipments, intended to assist the civilian population in Gaza, are delayed or looted, further exacerbating the humanitarian situation in the region.
Nadia Al-Khatib, a relief coordinator for an international organisation, stated that “we have witnessed several instances where portions of the aid in route to Gaza were confiscated or stolen. This hinders our ability to provide prompt support to those in desperate need.”
The UN and human rights organisations have repeatedly called for security guarantees for humanitarian aid and the assurance of its full and safe delivery without interference from the warring parties. Despite some international efforts to secure the aid, instances of theft by Israeli forces remain an additional obstacle that affects the effectiveness of this aid in alleviating the ongoing suffering.
Despite growing international support, humanitarian aid to Gaza remains constrained by numerous challenges, both logistical and political. Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE play vital roles in providing assistance, but security conditions, political disputes, and the blockade continue to hinder the delivery of aid to all those affected.
The international community must intensify its efforts to overcome these challenges and ensure aid reaches Gaza’s residents in a timely and equitable manner, while also considering political solutions to end their ongoing suffering.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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