Aid flights from Germany to Gaza have commenced
The German Armed Forces' humanitarian aid operation for the Gaza Strip is facing significant challenges due to the restricted access and limited amount of aid allowed into the region, controlled by Israel.
For several months, Israel had not allowed or only allowed a few aid deliveries to pass. However, recently, the aid was increased by up to almost 31 million euros in May. Germany is participating in the aid operation with two aircraft, but the overall aid flow remains inadequate to meet the severe emergency needs of over two million Palestinians.
Israel controls all access to the Mediterranean coastal region, and the Gaza Strip is on the brink of famine, according to UN reports. Despite some limited progress and initial food airdrops conducted by Germany and Jordan, thousands of vehicles with aid await permission to enter Gaza, severely constraining distribution and effectiveness.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) is urging the Israeli government to enable UN and international aid organizations secure access and distribution of aid. Unlike aid deliveries with trucks, the dropped food supplies can hardly be distributed specifically. Aid workers consider the airdrop of aid supplies from the air to be ineffective and expensive.
To address this, Germany is providing an additional five million euros for the UN World Food Programme WFP to support bakeries and soup kitchens in Gaza. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Wadephul is financing a field hospital of the Order of Malta in Gaza City.
The health authority controlled by Hamas announced that 60,034 Palestinians have died in the past nearly 22 months due to the Gaza war. The majority of the victims are said to be women, minors, and the elderly. More than 95 percent of the aid is used for the population in the Gaza Strip.
However, the numbers cannot be independently verified and do not distinguish between civilians and fighters. The defence minister, Boris Pistorius (SPD), emphasized that the aid flights could only contribute a small part and bring the most essential things to the people.
Germany is coordinating with Jordan, France, and the UK to improve airlift operations. Nevertheless, the humanitarian situation remains critical due to restricted access and delivery bottlenecks.
The total German humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories since the Gaza war in October 2023 has exceeded 330 million euros, according to UN organizations which consider the numbers largely reliable.
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/gaza-fluchthilfe-deutsche-streben-nach-effektiveren-transport-a-129630772.html [2] https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/gaza-fluchthilfe-101.html [3] https://www.n-tv.de/politik/Gaza-Fluchthilfe-Deutschland-versucht-Aktion-zu-verbessern-article21399310.html [4] https://www.dw.com/en/germany-steps-up-aid-to-gaza-strip/a-58304556
- The humanitarian aid operation in Gaza, coordinated by Germany, is confronted with obstacles, such as restricted access and limited aid allocation, due to the control Israel has over the region.
- To enhance the effectiveness of aid delivery in Gaza, Germany is collaborating with countries like Jordan, France, and the UK, as well as providing additional funds for UN organizations and sponsoring a field hospital, recognizing that the current situation remains critical.
