The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has cautioned that while the maritime corridor offers a new avenue for aid, it cannot substitute for vital land routes, which remain the fastest and most effective means of delivering humanitarian assistance to the beleaguered enclave. More than two million Palestinians in Gaza are in dire need of food, shelter, and other forms of aid. “Any and all aid into Gaza is welcome by any route,” stated spokesperson Jens Laerke during a press briefing in Geneva. “However, this serves as an addition and does not diminish the importance of land crossings.”
On Friday, the U.S. Central Command reported that trucks began operations around 9 a.m. local time, with no military personnel disembarking. A floating dock, which had been secured to a Gaza beach the day before, will allow for additional aid deliveries as many border crossings remain either closed or unsafe. “The United Nations appreciates any initiative that facilitates aid access to Gaza,” said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq in New York later that day. He expressed gratitude towards the U.S. and Cyprus, along with support from other Member States, for maintaining the maritime corridor as an alternative route for aid distribution. He clarified that after months of negotiations with relevant authorities, the UN has agreed to assist in receiving and coordinating the distribution of aid from the floating dock, provided that it maintains the neutrality and independence of humanitarian efforts.
Laerke further noted that UN agencies are finalizing their readiness plans for managing aid once the floating dock becomes operational, while emphasizing the importance of staff safety. “Community awareness and acceptance are crucial for the security of this operation,” he remarked. “Nonetheless, delivering assistance to those in need within and across Gaza must not rely solely on a floating dock situated far from the most urgent needs.” He reiterated that land routes are the most effective and efficient method for aid delivery, pressing for the reopening of all crossing points.
In the latest updates regarding Rafah, OCHA reported that approximately 640,000 individuals have been displaced since the onset of the Israeli military offensive. Many have sought refuge in the overcrowded Deir al Balah governorate in central Gaza, where conditions are severely compromised. The ongoing influx of displaced individuals has further strained an already stretched humanitarian response. “The situation is continually evolving due to the intense fighting,” noted Yasmina Guera, an OCHA humanitarian affairs officer in Rafah, in an interview with UN News. “One of the challenges we face is that as soon as we implement a plan, circumstances change, requiring us to start over.”
OCHA indicated that teams tasked with food distribution in Gaza reported that only five bakeries are currently operational within the enclave—four in Gaza City and one in Deir al Balah. Nearly a dozen others have ceased operations due to shortages of fuel and supplies amidst ongoing conflict. Consequently, aid organizations have been compelled to conduct limited distributions with scant resources, prioritizing reduced rations for those in Khan Younis and Deir al Balah.
The crisis surrounding water and sanitation has worsened due to the displacement from Rafah to Khan Younis, leading to sewage overflow and solid waste accumulating on roads, in displacement camps, and among the rubble of destroyed homes, severely impacting public health. OCHA reported that there are no remaining stocks of shelter materials available within Gaza for those in need.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted fuel shortages as a critical issue. Spokesperson Tarik Jašarević revealed that only 13 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially operational, emphasizing the necessity of fuel for electricity and generator operation. Health partners have indicated that between 1.4 million and 1.8 million liters of fuel are needed monthly for hospital functionality, yet only 159,000 liters have been delivered to Gaza since the border closure, a figure that is clearly inadequate.
