The United States is aiming to deliver more than 500 trucks of humanitarian aid daily into Gaza during the ceasefire period, according to a State Department spokesperson. The ceasefire is seen as a crucial step in addressing the distribution challenges faced by humanitarian organizations in Gaza, particularly the 'last mile' problem.
Due to the security situation in Gaza, distributing aid has been extremely challenging. The aid will be channeled through humanitarian partners, primarily UN agencies and other non-governmental organizations operating in the region.
The State Department has reached agreements with various humanitarian partners to facilitate aid distribution, with further details to be ironed out. A meeting in Cairo on Thursday is expected to address these issues.
When asked about reconstruction efforts to support aid distribution given the extensive damage in Gaza, it was clarified that the initial focus is on stabilizing and recovering the situation before moving towards reconstruction.
While acknowledging the significant destruction of humanitarian infrastructure, it was noted that some warehouses in Gaza remain intact. However, access to these warehouses has been impeded by security concerns. Efforts are underway to reactivate these warehouses and increase the flow of aid trucks in the region.
