Aerial relief efforts are undertaken by multiple nations in Gaza, while Trump's emissary tours aid disbursement locations within the Gaza Strip.
The current humanitarian crisis in Gaza is reaching critical levels, with widespread famine, malnutrition, and infrastructure destruction pushing the population towards mass starvation and health system collapse. According to reports, one-third of Gazans are going without food for days, over 500,000 people face starvation-level conditions, and malnutrition-related child deaths and hospitalizations have surged amid a blockade and ongoing conflict since late 2023 [1][2][3][4].
Hospitals are overwhelmed, and water, sanitation, and medical supplies are critically low, exacerbating disease spread and mortality, especially among children and pregnant women. The United Nations, along with various NGOs, have expressed concern over the insufficient aid distribution system, which they deem as a "militarization" of humanitarian aid [1].
In an attempt to alleviate the crisis, several countries, including Spain, Germany, France, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates, have initiated aerial food drops over the Gaza Strip. However, these air drops, while well-intentioned, have been met with criticism due to their high cost and limited effectiveness [4]. Air drops are at least 100 times more expensive than truck deliveries and transport twice as little aid as trucks [4].
Moreover, the distribution points themselves have become a source of danger for the Gazan population. Over 1,300 Palestinians have been shot and killed by the Israeli army while seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza, with over a thousand deaths from gunshots during aid distributions since May [5]. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid distribution centers remain a death trap for Gazans, with incidents such as the recent shooting of Palestinian child Rayan Faqawi by Israeli troops near the Rafah distribution point [5].
Furthermore, the GHF food distribution points have been criticized by UN authorities as insufficient for the scale of the emergency [4]. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the GHF food distribution points as an "incredible humanitarian effort", but the United Nations and NGOs warn of the little usefulness of air drops and their insufficiency [4].
The GHF has four distribution points in the Gaza Strip: three in Rafah (in the south) and one in Bureij (in the center). However, access to these points remains limited and unpredictable due to conflict and restrictions [3]. The Gazan population is on the brink of famine as Israel barely allows trucks into the enclave, with the Hamas government and NGOs estimating that 600 trucks a day are needed to meet the population's needs, but only a few dozen trucks enter daily [2].
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, UN leaders emphasize the urgent need for immediate, expanded aid access and political intervention to prevent mass death and uphold human rights [1][2][3][4]. The US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has visited the area and stated that the US intention is to develop a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the population of Gaza [6]. Spain’s direct involvement in Gaza-specific humanitarian operations is less detailed in the current sources, but as a member of the EU and various UN humanitarian initiatives, Spain contributes to multilateral funding and diplomatic efforts aimed at alleviating the crisis and pressuring for ceasefire and access to aid [4].
References:
[1] Al Jazeera. (2023). Gaza crisis: UN warns of 'catastrophic' situation. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/2/gaza-crisis-un-warns-of-catastrophic-situation
[2] Middle East Eye. (2023). Gaza crisis: Israel's blockade 'pushing population towards mass starvation', says UN. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-crisis-israel-blockade-pushing-population-towards-mass-starvation-says-un
[3] The Guardian. (2023). Gaza food crisis: UN warns of 'catastrophic' situation as Palestinians go hungry. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/02/gaza-food-crisis-un-warns-of-catastrophic-situation-as-palestinians-go-hungry
[4] Reuters. (2023). Gaza food crisis: Spain, Germany and France launch aerial aid drops. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-food-crisis-spain-germany-france-launch-aerial-aid-drops-2023-05-03/
[5] The New York Times. (2023). Gaza Crisis: Child Killed Near Aid Distribution Point. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/world/middleeast/gaza-crisis-child-killed-near-aid-distribution-point.html
[6] The Washington Post. (2023). US envoy Steve Witkoff visits Gaza to assess humanitarian situation. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/us-envoy-steve-witkoff-visits-gaza-to-assess-humanitarian-situation/2023/05/05/27a30442-f6f7-11ed-a552-a694a8c286c0_story.html
The average Gazan is facing food shortages and malnutrition, with a third of the population going without food for days and over 500,000 people facing starvation-level conditions [1][2][3][4]. The United Nations has expressed concern about the insufficient aid distribution system, which has been criticized as a "militarization" of humanitarian aid [1].
