UN calls on Israel to open Rafah crossing — as Gaza faces worsening humanitarian crisis and aid shortages.

New York

The United Nations is facing difficulties in tracking the number of aid trucks entering Gaza due to limited access and verification challenges. While there has been a 46 percent increase in aid deliveries since the start of the ceasefire, the volume remains below the levels agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement, which called for at least 600 trucks per day. 

The UN has urged Israel to open additional border crossings, particularly the Rafah crossing, to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid. Despite these calls, Israel has not yet agreed to open Rafah, and the UN continues to press for increased access to address urgent needs in Gaza.

UN urges Israel to open Rafah crossing for urgent Gaza aid

The U.N. is facing many challenges on trying to count how many trucks full of aid are getting into Gaza. While some of the trucks are from the U.N., others are from partner organizations or trucks that are commercial in nature, not directly affiliated with the U.N. Also complicating matters is Israel has only opened up two border crossings and only allowed U.N. monitors to be present at one, making it almost impossible for the U.N. to verify Israeli numbers. The humanitarian partners have scaled up aid delivery with a 46 percent increase in aid tracked by the U.N. entering the street in the first week of the ceasefire. Crucial assistance in the areas of food, hygiene, shelter and health is being delivered in greater quantities, bringing much needed relief to Gaza population. But this is not enough. Much more still needs to be done. The ceasefire agreement was clear. Aid must be entering into Gaza at minimum at the same levels as the January ceasefire, which was about 600 trucks a day. We are now almost two weeks into this latest ceasefire agreement. I asked one of the spokespeople for the secretary general for some clarification. In any point in the last two weeks, has more than 600 U.N. trucks gotten in on any given day? No, not not U.N. trucks. And who would be responsible for that? Certainly we want the Israeli authorities to allow in more trucks at more crossing points. We've made that clear. At the same time, we are aware that there are more U.N. trucks and also more commercial trucks going in. And that is a welcome sign. We want to build on that. The U.N. continues to call on Israel to open the Rafah border crossing. If they did, it would allow a lot more aid into Gaza almost immediately. But so far, Israel continues to refuse. Gabriel Azando, Al Jazeera, the United Nations in New York.

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