How long will it take to rebuild the infrastructure for aid? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Ceasefire: An agreement to stop fighting, often temporary.
• Humanitarian Aid: Assistance provided to people in need, especially during crises, including food, medicine, shelter, and hygiene products.
• Displacement: The forced movement of people from their homes.
• Malnutrition: A condition resulting from deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy and/or nutrient intake.
• Hypothermia: A dangerous drop in body temperature.
• UNICEF: The United Nations Children's Fund, an agency dedicated to child welfare.
• Save the Children: A non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on children's rights and well-being.
• World Food Programme (WFP): A UN agency that provides food assistance.
• NGOs: Non-governmental organizations, independent of government control.
• Border Crossings: Points where goods and people can enter or leave a territory.
• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Explosive weapons that have not detonated and still pose a risk.
• Public Health Crisis: A situation where a disease or health issue poses a significant threat to the health of a population.

US Diplomatic Intervention and Ceasefire Efforts

Donald Trump is actively involved in efforts to preserve the ceasefire he helped broker in Gaza. His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff have visited Israel and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This diplomatic push follows a day of Israeli air strikes in Gaza, which Israel states were in retaliation for Hamas attacks on Israeli troops.

Humanitarian Crisis and Aid Shortages

Despite the fragile ceasefire, relief agencies report that the promised flow of aid is significantly insufficient. Families in Gaza are living in tents amidst the ruins, struggling for survival. Essential supplies like food, medicine, and hygiene products are desperately needed, and with winter approaching, concerns are high about people's ability to withstand the cold and rain.

• Specific Needs: Food, medicines, hygiene products, shelter items (tents, tarpaulin sheets), winter clothes, and medical supplies for hospitals, including neonatal intensive care units.
• Winter Concerns: Temperatures are expected to drop to 6-8° Celsius (43-50° Fahrenheit). Gaza is prone to flooding, and displaced populations are often in low-lying coastal areas. There is a risk of hypothermia, especially for children, and the potential for sewage system failures to exacerbate public health crises.
• Infrastructure Damage: The landscape is described as "post-apocalyptic," with widespread destruction of buildings and infrastructure. In some areas, no buildings remain standing.

Aid Delivery Challenges and Requirements

While Israel has announced the reopening of two aid crossings, the UN and humanitarian groups state that the volume of aid entering Gaza is far below the required levels.

• UNICEF's Experience: Rosalia Bolan from UNICEF reported that over 20 trucks of life-saving aid were picked up and 20 more offloaded for collection on a specific day. This included diapers, soap, sanitary pads, medical supplies, and equipment for hospitals. UNICEF aims to provide shoes and winter clothes to every child under 10 by year-end.
• Scale of Need: UNICEF estimates that hundreds of trucks are needed daily, not just for UNICEF but as part of a collective effort involving NGOs, UN agencies, the private sector, and diplomatic missions.
• Save the Children's Perspective: Alexandra SA from Save the Children emphasizes the need for all crossing points to be open and for aid to enter without restrictions. They estimate a minimum of 600 trucks per day are needed, though even this may not be enough. Consistency and predictability in aid delivery are crucial.
• World Food Programme (WFP): Kate Newton from WFP reports that over 500 trucks have entered Gaza, marking a scale-up. However, access is limited to the south, and there is no crossing point into the north. They are able to supply about 10 bakeries but could increase this to 30 with sufficient supplies. WFP is also keen to scale up nutrition response for vulnerable women and children.
• Pre-war Dependency: Even before the current conflict, 80% of people in Gaza were surviving on humanitarian assistance, highlighting the long-term dependency and the immense task of rebuilding.

Impact of Instability on Aid Operations

The lack of a stable peace and the recurrence of violence significantly complicate the work of aid agencies.

• Ceasefire Violations: Despite the ceasefire, there have been Palestinian deaths, and the sound of drones has returned, causing fear among families and colleagues.
• Security and Predictability: Aid groups require a level of predictability and adequate security to operate effectively. While there has been a slight improvement in convoy movement since the ceasefire, challenges remain.
• Unexploded Ordnance (UXO): Gaza is littered with UXO, making movement and distribution of aid difficult and dangerous.
• Psychological Impact: Children have suffered severe injuries and trauma, requiring significant mental health support. Stories like that of Amir, who lost his father and home and sustained leg injuries, illustrate the compounding effects of war.

Key Arguments and Perspectives

• Urgency of Aid: All interviewed representatives stress the critical and overwhelming need for humanitarian aid to prevent further suffering and death, particularly from malnutrition and the approaching winter.
• Need for Open Crossings: A consistent argument is the necessity of keeping all entry points into Gaza open and allowing for unrestricted access for life-saving supplies.
• Long-Term Rebuilding: The scale of destruction means that rebuilding Gaza will take years, and even basic necessities are not yet in place.
• Children's Vulnerability: UNICEF and Save the Children highlight the particular vulnerability of children, who are at risk from cold, malnutrition, and the psychological impact of war.

Data and Statistics Mentioned

• Trucks of Aid: Over 20 trucks for UNICEF on a specific day; over 500 trucks for WFP since the scale-up; a need for hundreds, potentially 600+, trucks per day.
• Winter Temperatures: Expected to drop to 6-8° Celsius (43-50° Fahrenheit).
• Malnutrition: A sharp increase in malnutrition cases observed in July, August, and September, with tens of thousands of children needing assistance.
• Pre-war Aid Dependency: 80% of people in Gaza were surviving off humanitarian assistance before the current conflict.
• Palestinian Deaths: More than 80 Palestinian deaths reported since the latest ceasefire deal was announced.

Conclusion

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with a critical need for sustained and sufficient humanitarian aid. While a ceasefire has been brokered and some aid is beginning to flow, the scale of destruction, the approaching winter, and the ongoing instability pose significant challenges. International diplomatic efforts are crucial to ensure the ceasefire holds and that all necessary aid reaches the population, particularly the most vulnerable children. The long-term task of rebuilding Gaza is immense and will require sustained international commitment.