After Israel's agreement, Egypt is expected to allow up to 20 trucks to pass through this Friday, as the situation in the Palestinian territory deteriorates very quickly.
“ Every hour counts ” in Gaza. In the landlocked Palestinian territory between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean, shelled by the Hebrew state since the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7 and under total blockade, the humanitarian situation is becoming “very very difficult” for civilians , warns this Thursday, October 19 Jean-François Corty, vice-president of Médecins du Monde. “ Every second we wait for medical help, we lose lives ,” the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) already worried the day before, saying he “needs immediate access to start delivering [of] vital products ” which Gaza lacks.
The situation should finally begin to unravel on Friday with the entry of a first humanitarian convoy from Egypt via the Rafah border post , where dozens of trucks loaded with food and medical equipment are waiting. Visiting Israel on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden negotiated that the Jewish state allow this humanitarian aid to pass through the south of the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian president, with whom he then spoke, agreed to initially allow around twenty trucks to pass through.
A first test pass
“ This aid is life-saving, but it remains conditional on many parameters ,” worries Jean-François Corty. While time is running out for civilians in Gaza, they will have to wait until Friday for the access road to be repaired by Egypt. “ The bombings must also stop so that humanitarian workers can carry out distribution without risk and residents can go out ,” adds the humanitarian worker.
Twenty trucks are too few given the needs in Gaza. “ They lack water – some people have to drink salt water – food, medicine and medical equipment ,” says Jean-François Corty. There is also a shortage of fuel oil to run hospital generators, but Israel does not appear ready to allow it at the moment, for fear that it will fall into the hands of Hamas.
At least a hundred trucks would have to pass through per day, according to the head of humanitarian emergencies at the United Nations, Martin Griffiths. “ We want to get as many trucks through as possible ,” Joe Biden assured Wednesday evening. But Egypt, warned the American president, sees this first passage as a test: “ If Hamas seizes [the humanitarian aid trucks] or does not let them pass [...], then it will be over. »
“ And what about the people who were unable to leave the northern Gaza Strip? asks Jean-François Corty. There are still a lot of people left, including many injured and sick, and help needs to get there too. » Israel refuses to allow humanitarian aid to pass through its territory until the hostages held by Hamas are released, which does not allow access to Gaza other than to the south, via Egypt.
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