[중동전쟁]
First relief supplies including water, food, and medicine
4% of daily volume before the outbreak of war
“It’s like dropping a drop of water into the ocean.”
Aid supplies were delivered to the Gaza Strip for the first time on the 21st (local time), 13 days after Israel completely blockaded the Gaza Strip, the base of Hamas, due to a surprise attack by the Palestinian armed group Hamas. The 20 truckloads of water, food, and medicine brought in that day are not enough for 2.3 million Palestinians to use for a day. As the international community appealed for continued humanitarian support, the second round of relief goods delivery began on the 22nd.
According to foreign media, including the Associated Press, around 10 a.m. on this day, 20 trucks loaded with relief supplies that had been waiting in front of the Rafah border checkpoint in Egypt, which borders the southern part of the Gaza Strip, passed through the checkpoint entrance and entered the Gaza Strip. According to the released video, large trucks moved along the vehicle with the UN flag, and relief organization workers welcomed it by waving Palestinian flags.
U.S. President Joe Biden worked hard to mediate until relief goods were delivered to the Gaza Strip, where supplies of drinking water, electricity, food, and medicine were cut off due to Israel’s complete blockade.
After making a surprise visit to Israel on the 18th to curb the escalation of war, President Biden persuaded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to provide humanitarian support, believing that reducing civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip would reduce the justification for the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Iran to intervene in the war. Israel agreed on the condition that relief supplies be limited to water, food and medicine and that they never flow to Hamas. President Biden then spoke with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah Sisi and agreed to send 20 truckloads of relief goods to the Gaza Strip. Egypt has been concerned that opening its borders would lead to an influx of Palestinian refugees and terrorists.
However, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the relief goods delivered on the 21st account for only about 4% of the daily volume transported into Gaza before the outbreak of the Middle East war. Previously, World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Response Director Michael Ryan said, “(The 20 trucks) are like dropping a drop of water into the ocean in the situation Gaza is currently facing.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged, “We must allow the import of fuel as well as food, water and medicine.”
The United Nations believes that at least 100 truckloads of relief goods are needed to overcome the limitations of Gaza residents who have been blockaded for 13 days. President Biden also said, “We will cooperate to ensure continued support to the Gaza Strip.” Ultimately, local media reported that on the 22nd, 17 trucks, including 3 trucks from the Egyptian Red Crescent (Islamic Red Cross), entered the southern Gaza Strip to deliver relief supplies. Currently, about 200 trucks loaded with 3,000 tons of relief supplies sent by countries and relief organizations around the world are waiting near the Rafah checkpoint.
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Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.