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UN: Some aid trucks cross into Gaza but supplies have not reached UN warehouses
Summary
The United Nations said limited shipments of food and medical supplies entered Gaza after 11 weeks of blockade, but Israeli security procedures and frontline fighting have prevented the UN from moving those goods into its warehouses or distribution points.
The United Nations said limited shipments of aid entered the Gaza Strip on Friday, but UN teams have so far been unable to bring those supplies into their warehouses and distribution points inside Gaza.
UN spokesperson Steph said in a briefing that “more supplies have come in to the Gaza Strip, we have not been able to secure the arrival of those supplies into our warehouses and delivery points.” She said Israeli authorities have required humanitarian convoys to offload on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing and then reload once Israeli security forces have cleared UN teams to enter the Gaza side.
The briefing said that Israeli military issued a displacement order affecting 26 neighborhoods in northern Gaza — including parts of Beit Lahia and Jabaliya and the Jabaliya camp — covering roughly 35 square kilometers, or about 10% of the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian partners estimated that more than 41,000 people were displaced by the order as of midday local time; partners also reported that since May 15 some 57,000 people were displaced in southern Gaza and more than 81,000 in northern Gaza amid intensified hostilities.
UN humanitarian colleagues described widespread service disruption: three hospitals, three health centres and four medical points are inside the newly ordered displacement area, and other facilities lie within 1,000 metres of it. The briefing cited Ministry of Health reports that an Indonesian hospital suffered damage to electrical generators after an attack, forcing suspension of services for about 55 patients and medical staff present at the time, and that an Israeli airstrike hit a school in the Anusrat area, killing seven people.
Steph said the operation to move aid is “extremely, extremely difficult,” citing security clearances, road congestion and the need for Israeli permission to allow UN teams to collect reloaded trucks. She confirmed that some trucks entered Gaza on Thursday — “about four, not five” — and that “a few dozen” trucks had managed to get in on Friday; she also noted that Israeli authorities had publicly said they allowed more trucks than actually reached UN teams.
The UN noted that delivery of baby formula and other nutrition supplies reached the Gaza side but that, because of the required offload-and-reload process and delays obtaining Israeli clearance to collect the reloaded vehicles, those items had not reached UN storage or distribution points. “It is only a drop in the ocean of what is actually needed,” the spokesperson said.
The briefing also said UNRWA staff members were among those killed or injured in recent strikes and reiterated long-standing appeals to parties to protect civilians and allow unfettered humanitarian access. The UN described fuel shortages that are forcing severe cuts to water and sanitation operations across Gaza; partners reported that northern areas had no fuel and southern utilities had received none, worsening risks to health and sanitation.
Looking ahead, the spokesperson said the UN will continue to press for safe and sustained humanitarian access and for parties to coordinate so that UN teams can move supplies from unloading points to warehouses and deliver them to people in need.
