UNRWA Chief: Israel Reduced Aid to Gaza to Just 30 Trucks per Day in October

Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), announced on Wednesday that Israel has severely restricted humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. According to Lazzarini, the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza dropped to a mere 30 trucks per day throughout October, a drastic reduction compared to pre-conflict levels.

Lazzarini emphasised that this limited aid supply falls alarmingly short of addressing the urgent needs of Gaza’s more than two million residents. “This amount of aid cannot meet the needs of more than two million people in Gaza, most of whom are suffering from hunger, illness, and desperate conditions,” he stated. The ongoing blockade has plunged Gaza’s population into severe deprivation, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis.

The Commissioner-General revealed that the current aid deliveries represent just 6 percent of the supplies previously allowed into Gaza before the recent escalation in hostilities. Before October, hundreds of trucks crossed into Gaza daily, providing essential food, medicine, and other supplies critical to the well-being of its people. The recent restrictions have left the majority of Gaza’s population without adequate resources, as food scarcity, limited medical supplies, and poor living conditions escalate in the besieged enclave.

Lazzarini called on all parties to prioritise the protection and welfare of civilians and allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid. As the crisis continues, millions remain in need, with limited relief and no end to the hardship in sight.