Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has expressed strong displeasure upon discovering thousands of tons of aid intended for hungry Palestinians trapped in a warehouse. Approximately 5,000 pallets, equivalent to 4,000 metric tonnes, containing essential items such as wheat flour, canned goods, yeast, and sugar, are currently stranded at a World Food Programme (WFP) facility near Amman, Jordan, due to restrictions imposed by Israel. Officials have indicated that there is ample aid in Jordan to facilitate the transportation of 150 trucks daily into Gaza, five days a week, for a period of three months.
However, the primary crossing from Jordan to the West Bank has been closed to goods vehicles by Israeli authorities. In an interview with the Mirror, Ms. Cooper emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have aid funded by the UK that is meant for Gaza but is being delayed here in Jordan.”
Ms. Cooper highlighted that the wheat alone in the warehouse could sustain 700,000 individuals for a month, underscoring the pressing need to expedite the aid delivery process to Gaza. She called for the reopening of the Jordanian route into Gaza and emphasized the significance of reopening all crossings to ensure the swift delivery of aid to the people in need.
Despite an increase in aid entering the conflict-ridden region following the recent ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the current levels fall short of the targets outlined in the peace plan proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Non-governmental organizations have accused the Israeli Government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, of impeding aid shipments and restricting charity organizations’ access to deliver assistance to the enclave.
Ms. Cooper is spearheading diplomatic efforts to boost aid distribution in Gaza, collaborating with the United Nations, other allies, and a U.S.-led coordinating committee to devise strategies for further increasing aid supplies. Stressing the importance of swift action, she urged Israel to ease restrictions and facilitate the opening of crossings as part of the peace process.
Ms. Cooper emphasized the necessity of making progress before winter, highlighting the urgent need for shelter for over a million individuals in Gaza. Additionally, supplies of warm clothing and shelter kits are currently stockpiled in warehouses managed by organizations like Unicef.
The situation in Gaza has been described as “desperate” by Musonda Kasonde, deputy representative of operations at Unicef, who emphasized the critical need for immediate assistance before winter sets in. Expressing concern for children without proper clothing or shelter, Kasonde stressed the urgency of opening access to expedite aid delivery.
In conclusion, the call for swift action to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza remains paramount, with stakeholders emphasizing the critical need to overcome logistical hurdles and ensure timely aid distribution to those in need.