“Daily deliveries continue and now average around 750 tons.“said Ms Etefa. “That is much better than what we had before the ceasefire, but it is still well below our target, which is around 2,000 tonnes per day.”
The WFP spokesperson explained that unless all border crossings can be used, achieving this goal is “almost impossible.”
Cross purposes
At the moment, Only the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings in the south are open.and the “serious amount of destruction” prevents access from the south to the north, where famine was declared in August.
They don’t have much confidence in how long the ceasefire will last and what will happen next.
“We need Erez, we need Zikkim, we need these border points to open,” Ms. Etefa insisted.
Reaching northern Gaza with large-scale convoys is a priority, he said.
“We have cleared the roads on a large scale to the north,” he added, removing debris from the border points to be able to connect with Gaza City, where the situation is particularly serious.
“But we need these crossings to open so we can receive large-scale convoys.”
Distribution Target
The agency has begun restoring its food distribution system, with The objective of expanding assistance through 145 distribution points throughout the Strip.. Some 26 distribution points have already been restored.
“The response has been really overwhelming,” Ms. Etefa said, describing people’s reactions to the food distributions. “People come in large numbers, grateful for the efficiency of the delivery of food assistance.as well as the “dignified way” in which they can queue and quickly obtain their food rations.
The impact is significant, especially for “the most vulnerable, women, female-headed households and the elderly,” he said.
Hedging bets
People are hopeful, but there is “cautious optimism” about how long current conditions will prevail, Etefa said. Those who receive food aid tend to eat only part of the rations and save the rest in case of emergency.“because they don’t have much confidence in how long the ceasefire will last and what will happen next.”
“It is a fragile peace,” stressed Mrs. Etefa.
Adding to the challenges is the fact that food prices in Gaza remain prohibitive and supplies are still not sufficient “at the level that can be affordable,” Ms. Etefa said. “There is still a huge access problem… people can find food in the market, but is out of reach because it is extremely expensive”, he warned.
Support for the hungry
WFP is supporting the most food insecure with digital payments that have so far enabled around 140,000 people to buy food in local markets, with the aim of doubling the program in the coming weeks.
The WFP spokesperson reiterated the agency’s calls for commercial supplies to enter the enclave and complement aid. “Humanitarian aid will not be the only solution to confront severe malnutrition and have a complete food basket,” he explained.
Only a full implementation of the ceasefire will allow WFP to operate at the scale required for this crisis, Ms. Etefa stressed. “Maintaining the ceasefire is vital.
It’s really… the only way to save lives and reverse famine in the north of Gaza,” he concluded.
Bread is prepared at a bakery in Deir Al Balah, Gaza.