Aid entering Gaza may not reach people who need it because the most restrictive part of the journey can come after trucks cross into the enclave. Damaged roads, fuel shortages, traffic, vehicle breakdowns and danger to drivers can prevent cargo from reaching warehouses and distribution centres.
Only a small number of Gaza’s transport and aid vehicles are still operating, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. At least 150 vehicles have been damaged or destroyed, while others are kept running with repairs and parts taken from vehicles that are no longer in use.
Why the journey does not end at the crossing
Trucks carrying goods from Egypt enter through the Rafah crossing after inspection, then travel towards distribution points using Salah al-Din Street or the Philadelphi Corridor to reach the main coastal highway, al-Rashid Street. Aid must pass several points before it can reach Gaza’s governorates.
A truck that breaks down leaves its load inaccessible. A replacement vehicle may be unable to move, lack tyres or fuel, or carry less cargo. The reduced number of working trucks increases the pressure on those still operating.
A transport system running on repairs
Before the war, about 1,200 vehicles served Gaza’s transport and aid needs. Mechanics and drivers now repair one another’s trucks and drain fuel from damaged vehicles to keep others moving. Tyres, oil, engines and spare parts are in short supply.
The source material describes vehicles being held together through repeated repairs and components taken from vehicles no longer in use. These shortages make each stage of aid delivery more vulnerable to a mechanical failure.
Drivers face risks on the route
The obstacles are not limited to vehicles and roads. Aid drivers also face danger from Israeli forces and Israeli-backed militias while attempting to deliver assistance.
Naser Isleem said his son, Ahmed Isleem, a Palestinian aid driver, was killed by Israeli forces while trying to deliver aid to Gaza. The account illustrates the human risks faced by drivers alongside the logistical barriers.
The key measure is delivery beyond entry
The number of trucks allowed to cross is only one limit on aid delivery. The more critical constraint, according to the source material, is how many vehicles can travel from a crossing to distribution centres through damaged roads and difficult operating conditions.
People waiting for food, medicine and fuel therefore depend not only on trucks entering Gaza, but also on whether those vehicles, their cargo and their drivers can complete the journey to the places where aid is distributed.
No comments yet. Start the discussion.