Trickling but crucial: Rafah sees renewed aid movement, with Egypt now supplying nearly 80% of Gaza’s humanitarian support amid deepening hunger crisis
For the third day in a row, aid trucks rolled through Egypt’s Rafah crossing into Gaza—offering a sliver of relief to a population increasingly trapped between blockade, bombardment, and starvation.
On Tuesday, Egyptian media confirmed that dozens of trucks carrying food, medical kits, and basic supplies passed through the border. The shipments mark a fragile lifeline for Gaza’s 2.4 million residents, many of whom now rely almost entirely on external aid just to survive.
But while the images of trucks inching into Gaza offer a glimmer of hope, the larger picture remains grim: the pace is nowhere near what’s needed.
Bare Minimum Deliveries Amid Soaring Need
According to Palestinian authorities, Gaza needs at least 600 aid trucks per day just to meet basic humanitarian demands. What’s currently coming through, even with this modest uptick, falls dramatically short.
On Monday, just a limited number of vehicles were allowed in via Rafah. Tuesday’s flow was slightly better, but not by much. A few dozen trucks trickled in by midday, carrying desperately needed supplies that will likely be rationed to the barest minimum.
One truck driver, interviewed by a local Egyptian broadcaster, said, “We’re hauling life—but it’s not enough. We leave the rest of the convoy behind the gate, waiting for permission.”
Rafah: The Only Breathing Valve Left
With most Israeli crossings either sealed or severely restricted, Egypt’s Rafah crossing has become Gaza’s only viable passageway for incoming aid. And Cairo is stepping up.
According to state broadcaster Al-Qahera, Egypt now accounts for nearly 80% of all aid entering Gaza.
That figure has grown steadily since Israel tightened its grip on aid routes in March. Since then, Rafah has taken on a bigger role—not just as a corridor for goods, but also a diplomatic flashpoint between Egypt, Israel, and international agencies.
Just one sentence here: UN officials say the volume entering Gaza is still “a drop in an ocean of need.”
Video Footage Shows Sparse Convoys
Anadolu Agency released footage on Tuesday showing the latest trucks crossing the border, loaded with sacks of flour, bottled water, and boxes of medical equipment. The trucks were modest in number—no more than 20 in the morning run—but each one was tightly packed.
Aid workers on the Gaza side could be seen unloading by hand in the punishing heat, sweat soaking their shirts as they formed human chains to move boxes into temporary shelters.
Here’s a snapshot of the reported aid activity:
| Date | Number of Trucks (Approx.) | Primary Supplies | Entry Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 27 | 15–20 | Food, water, basic medicines | Rafah |
| July 28 | 20–25 | Medical kits, flour, fuel | Rafah |
| July 29 | 30+ (est.) | Mixed relief supplies | Rafah |
The numbers vary daily, and coordination delays remain common.
Hunger Crisis Getting Worse, Not Better
Despite these recent deliveries, hunger in Gaza continues to spread.
The UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned that more than half of Gaza’s population is now experiencing catastrophic hunger, with children under five suffering acute malnutrition.
One aid worker in southern Gaza described the situation as “unfolding famine, right in front of our eyes.”
Palestinian officials say that unless the number of trucks ramps up to at least 600 per day soon, hospitals will begin seeing the effects of full-blown starvation—especially in newborns and the elderly.
And here’s the one-sentence paragraph: People are skipping meals to feed their children; some families have gone days on bread and tea.
Political Tensions Linger Over Border Access
Rafah’s role as a humanitarian artery has also made it a diplomatic pressure point.
Egypt insists it cannot fully open the gates without guarantees of Israeli non-interference, citing both logistical and security concerns. But international organizations are increasingly pressuring Cairo to do more—to ease inspection protocols, streamline customs checks, and speed up movement.
Still, Egyptian officials say their hands are tied by the situation’s complexity. They argue that unless Israel agrees to wider aid flows through Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings, Rafah alone won’t solve the problem.
A senior Egyptian source told a local news outlet, “We are doing 80% of the work with 30% of the capacity. That’s not sustainable.”
The Long Wait Continues Inside Gaza
Inside Gaza, queues for food stretch for hours. Medical clinics have run out of common antibiotics. Clean water is a luxury most don’t have. And despite three consecutive days of aid, none of this feels remotely like a solution.
Outside a damaged warehouse in Khan Younis, a man waiting for flour said, “If they bring 50 trucks, we need 500. If they bring 100, we need 1,000. We don’t live—we wait.”
And that’s the daily reality for Gaza’s civilians: waiting, surviving, and hoping that the next truck carries just enough to last another day.
