'We just need access'

Food starts to arrive amid huge challenges

- Jason Burke

Even if the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza opens today, NGOs face massive challenges distributing supplies to Gaza City and its surroundings in the north, the areas worst hit by hunger, experts say.

Key roads are virtually impassable because of the destruction. Any truck that breaks down is likely to be instantly looted.

Zikim, the main entry point to the north of the territory, devastated by two years of war with Israel, has been closed for several weeks, and Israeli officials have told NGOs in Gaza that there are no immediate plans to open the crossing, aid workers say. Gaza City was the target of a major Israeli offensive launched in August that was still under way when the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was signed a week ago.

Katy Crosby, the senior director of policy and advocacy at Mercy Corps, said: “Any opening of a crossing into Gaza is welcome, but we need to make sure we can reach people where they are. If we don’t see more access, we will just be maintaining the status quo at best. We won’t see a reduction in looting and we will see more displacement as people move to where there is more aid.”