On Day 15 of the Israel-Hamas war, twenty trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent—responsible for delivering aid from various UN agencies—crossed the Rafah crossing after reaching the Egyptian terminal.
The announcement follows a visit to Israel by US President Joe Biden, after which Washington announced that an agreement had been reached to let aid in through Egypt.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who visited the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Friday to oversee the preparations, expressed his helplessness on the closure of only the border crossing to supply aid and lifesaving medicines for Gaza people.
Israel had opposed the entry of aid saying no assistance would reach Hamas fighters. But the stance has now been changed after the release of two American hostages by Hamas.
ככה זה נראה: כניסת המשאית הראשונה של הסיוע ההומניטרי ממצרים לעזה דרך מעבר רפיח. בסה״כ 20 משאיות נכנסו והעבירו סיוע. pic.twitter.com/fNYrePSMtW
— Fadi Amun | فادي أمون | פאדי אמון (@FadiAmun) October 21, 2023
Hamas’ media office said in a statement on Saturday that the trucks “carry medicine, medical supplies, and a limited amount of food supplies [canned goods].”
Palestinians in the West Bank say the aid delivery is a “PR stunt” on the part of the international community to show it cares about civilians in Gaza, but that the quantities are not nearly enough to respond to the needs on the ground.
WHO health supplies move towards Gaza
The supplies include trauma medicines and supplies for 1200 people and portable trauma bags for on-the-spot stabilization of up to 235 injured people. They also include chronic diseases medicines and treatments for 1500 people and basic essential medicines and health supplies for 300,000 people for three months.
WHO is working with the Egyptian and Palestine Red Crescent societies to ensure the safe passage of these critical supplies and their delivery to hospitals and health facilities. Inside Gaza, hospitals have already reached breaking point due to shortages and the depletion of medicines and medical supplies.
These supplies are a lifeline for severely injured people or those battling chronic illnesses, who have endured a harrowing two weeks of limited access to care and severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies. WHO calls for the protection of humanitarian aid teams in Gaza as they work to ensure the safe delivery of these supplies to where they are most needed.
The supplies currently heading into Gaza will barely begin to address the escalating health needs as hostilities continue to grow.
A second plane landed in Al-Arish from the United Arab Emirates yesterday carrying humanitarian supplies donated by IOM, UNICEF, the Emirati Red Crescent, and WHO. WHO supplies include surgical instruments and equipment for 1000 people, as well as tents and water tanks. Another plane carrying WHO supplies is due to land in Al-Arish later this morning. WHO supplies on these flights include medicines, surgical supplies and instruments, infusions, disinfectant, antibiotics, water tanks, and tents.
With more supplies for Gaza expected to land in Egypt over the coming days, WHO calls for sustained and uninterrupted humanitarian access through the Rafah border crossing.
