Versuchen GOLD - Frei
Aid agencies warn airdrops are ‘humanitarian theatre’
The Independent
|July 29, 2025
The UK is set to join Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in airdropping aid into Gaza as starvation and malnutrition have reached perilous levels in the war-torn strip.
Following pressure from the international community, Israel has announced brief “humanitarian pauses” between 10am and 8pm each day to allow more aid to be delivered to starving Palestinians, as US president Donald Trump said yesterday: “They have to get food and safety right now.”
The World Health Organisation has warned that malnutrition is on a “dangerous trajectory” in the Gaza Strip, with 63 deaths in July. Around one in five small children in Gaza City are now acutely malnourished, according to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).
Airdropping is a controversial method of aid distribution, as humanitarian organisations have cited a number of safety and efficiency issues.
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) operations manager Jacob Burns called it “humanitarian theatre”, adding that “it’s absolutely not the only way” to get aid into Gaza.
“For the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), airdrops really are a last resort,” spokesperson Sarah Davies told The Independent, as the method comes with its own set of challenges.
What is airdropping?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 29, 2025-Ausgabe von The Independent.
Abonnieren Sie Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierter Premium-Geschichten und über 9.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Sie sind bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON The Independent
The Independent
WINDOW SHOPPING
Samuel Mathewson on the top men's advent calendars
4 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Badenoch ready for a scrap to free up housing market
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to abolish stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next election, as she unveiled a raft of tax cuts in a bid to claw back voters and boost the party's ratings.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Man who blew £1.5m on football wagers sues Betfair
A multimillionaire “problem gambler” who blew nearly £1.5m on football wagers is suing Betfair for his money back in a landmark case, claiming it was under a duty to protect him from himself.
5 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Why collapse of China spy case led to a political row
A major prosecution against two British men accused of spying for China has collapsed in a heap of ignominy and recrimination.
2 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
ON THIS DAY
1888: The 555ft white marble Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills, was opened.
1 min
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Will the entry-exit system deter holidays to the EU?
Q Do you think the new entry-exit system will put people off holidays in the EU? If it does, where will they go?
1 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Keep my beloved hometown out of your mouth, Fenrick
Birmingham looks quite nice now that it's finished.
3 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Root hits back over poor Ashes record down under
Joe Root believes England are ready to end their decade-long Ashes drought and “bring the urn home”, insisting his own quest for a century in Australia is a side issue.
3 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Dominoes falling into place over infamous City charges
A decision is finally expected soon in the Manchester City case, writes Miguel Delaney, with the recent settlement in the APT case possibly foreshadowing the end of the saga
4 mins
October 09, 2025
The Independent
Weakness of diplomacy does not work with Xi Jinping
Is China an enemy? To judge by the level of competence displayed in the Westminster espionage case, nobody is qualified to say.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size