Gaza aid shipments stuck on roadsides and in warehouses

Officials, lorry drivers list host of obstacles to getting supplies past border crossing

- 

RAFAH, Egypt - Boxes of Gaza-bound aid turned back by Israel on Aug 10 languished atop a lorry and flatbed trailer parked meters from its border with Egypt on Aug 11, as exasperated drivers and UN officials criticized delays in sending food and medicine to the enclave.

Seven aid officials and three lorry drivers interviewed by Reuters listed a host of obstacles, from rejections of shipments for minor packing and paperwork issues to heavy scrutiny over possible dual military use for a range of goods, as well as short working hours at the Israeli border crossing.

The supplies seen by Reuters on Aug 11 on the stalled lorry and trailer outside Egypt's Rafah border crossing carried blue logos of the World Health Organization (WHO) and labels describing contents like topical medication and suction devices to clean wounds.

A WHO employee working at the border said the cargo was blocked for carrying "illegal medicines".

Reuters could not independently verify why the lorries were not allowed to enter Gaza and the Israeli military authority in charge of coordinating aid did not respond to a question about why they were not let into the enclave.

Reuters visited Egypt's border with Gaza on Aug 11 on a trip organized by The Elders, a group of former world leaders set up by late former South African president Nelson Mandela that backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Some Elders members have been highly critical of Israel's conduct in Gaza, including former Irish president Mary Robinson and former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark, who joined the border trip.

Responding to international outrage sparked by images of starving Gazans, Israel on July 27 announced measures to let more aid into Gaza. But aid agencies say only a fraction of what they send is getting in. Israel strongly denies limiting aid supplies.