By Blessing Chinagorom
A 46-truck convoy, organized by World Food Programme (WFP) and Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), on Wednesday carried more than 750 metric tons of life- saving food into Gaza, marking the first time a direct aid convoy from Jordan has reached the Strip since the upsurge in hostilities began on 7 October.
The food body disclosed this, saying after weeks of coordination with all parties, this crucial first step could pave the way for more sustainable aid corridor via Jordan and allow for the delivery of more aid at scale that has so far not been possible with only one route through Egypt.
“Establishing a corridor through Jordan will increase the flow of aid and remove some of the pressure and congestion we are currently facing.
“This will allow us to secure more supplies and have more trucks on the road,” said Samer AbdelJaber, WFP Palestine Representative and Country Director/Emergency Coordinator.
He added that, “We are very grateful to everyone who made this possible. This is a promising step that will hopefully grant us more sustained and scaled-up access to reach more people in Gaza, faster.”
It says in line with its commitment to provide life-saving food assistance to people in Gaza, WFP has been mobilizing food across all surrounding areas in the region.
“Delivering food from Jordan, to Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing will increase the volume and speed of food reaching the Gaza Strip, as millions face the risk of starvation.
WFP said it has been continuously working with the Government of Jordan to augment the humanitarian response to Gaza since the start of the current crisis.
“In past weeks, WFP transported aid from Jordan to Gaza through the Aqaba, Nuweiba/Egypt crossing point and facilitated airlifts of inter-agency humanitarian supplies from Jordan to warehouse facilities at Al-Arish for eventual transport to Gaza.
“This further collaboration has come following the recent Aqaba Process Meeting, hosted by His Majesty King Abdullah II, which called for the opening of additional border crossings and the use of Jordan as a base for aid entry into Gaza.
“After 10 weeks of the crisis in Gaza, half of the population is now starving, with little access to food, water, and shelter.
“WFP is committed to providing vital food assistance to reach people in Gaza wherever they are in the fastest way possible. To do so, WFP calls for an immediate ceasefire and opening of all border crossings to provide relief and put an end to the suffering”, the food body added.
In a Press briefing on Wednesday, the United Nations Spokesman said that heavy Israeli bombardments from the air, land and sea across Gaza as well as firing of rockets by Palestinian armed groups into Israel continued for the 75th day.
He said the reports of attacks on health facilities as well as United Nations facilities, which are considered protected places under international humanitarian law, have also continued.
Disclosed that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that, for the seventh day in a row, most areas of the Gaza Strip have had no telecommunications or Internet services severely affecting emergency operations and access to information.
He said in the southern area, as mentioned yesterday, services have been temporarily restored. “The suffering of displaced people is compounded by the cold winter and rain that flooded tents and other makeshift shelters over the past week.
“The current hostilities have also had a staggering impact on the economy. According to estimates released by the International Labour Organization and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, at least 66 per cent of employment has been lost in Gaza since 7 October. That is about 192,000 jobs”, he said.