Gaza received two supply shipments over the weekend which is the first since Israel began bombing the Palestinian territory following a deadly attack by Hamas on October 7.
The 2.3 million residents of the besieged enclave are in desperate need of humanitarian relief since Israel cut off supplies of food, petrol, and electricity before beginning a bombing campaign.
Due to the constant shelling, over 4,600 Palestinians—more than one-third of them were children—have died.
Israel claims to be pursuing Hamas fighters responsible for the October 7 attack in southern Israel that claimed the lives of over 1,400 people.
What is known about the supplies of humanitarian aid going to Gaza is as follows.
Which countries have sent aid to Gaza?
At least eight aircraft carrying relief from Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Jordan touched down at El Arish International Airport in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.
On Sunday, El Arish received medical and disaster assistance supplies from India.
Rwanda has dispatched sixteen tons of relief supplies to Gaza.
The European Union (EU) has quadrupled its aid to the region and is launching an air bridge. But in reaction to the Hamas attacks, a number of EU nations, including Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, have temporarily stopped providing aid to Gaza.
How many trucks have entered Gaza so far?
Twenty trucks made up the first convoy that entered Gaza on Saturday from Egypt; the second convoy came the next day.
Numerous trucks, estimated to weigh 3,000 tons, are stationed close to the Egyptian border, awaiting authorization from Israel to enter Gaza.
UNICEF official in Egypt, Jeremy Hopkins, stated that "at least 100, 200 trucks going in per day" are needed to meet the needs of the people in Gaza.
In addition to the thousands of individuals in need of food and other needs, over a million people have been displaced and tens of thousands have sustained injuries that call for immediate medical attention.
What aid is being sent to Gaza?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent medical supplies, including bandages, anaesthetics, and painkillers, to the assistance convoys.
Food items such as tomato paste, wheat flour, and tuna tins have also been found in the vehicles.
They have also carried drinking water in bottles. Water was enough for 27,000 people in the first convoy to last for a single day, and 22,000 people in the second convoy to do the same for a day.
What other aid does Gaza require?
According to the UN humanitarian office, the amount of help that has been sent thus far only makes up 4% of the daily average needed prior to the hostilities and a small portion of what is currently necessary as supplies of fuel, food, water, and medications run low.
Relief organizations claim that fuel, which is essential, is missing from the supplies shipped to Gaza.
The sole cancer hospital in Gaza has issued a warning to its medical staff that they are running dangerously low on fuel and may have to close.
Is the border between Gaza and Egypt open?
The little amount of help was able to enter Gaza through the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which was opened for it.
Supplies entering Gaza via Rafah must be approved by Israel.
Following pressure from its international partners to lift its 10-day siege on Palestinian territory, Israel declared that it will not block humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza through Egypt.
Vehicles are positioned at the border, ready to enter Gaza at the next opening.
According to Hopkins, the border must always remain open.
