How much aid has made it into Gaza since Israel said it was easing restrictions?
But humanitarian organizations say the amount of aid that has entered the enclave is not enough, and without more food, growing numbers of Palestinians will die from hunger.
NBC News takes a look at how much aid has entered Gaza in the week since Israel announced the new system, and how that stacks up to the needs of the population.
A tally of aid
Humanitarian aid is currently entering Gaza in three ways: airdrops, distribution by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and by the United Nations and other aid organizations using the newly formed 'humanitarian corridors' the Israeli military put in place last week.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began distributing aid in the enclave in late May, has been widely condemned for the hundreds of people killed, often by Israeli soldiers, near its aid sites, and for its limited distribution.
Last Sunday, GHF distributed around 1 million meals and at least another 1.2 million from Monday to Wednesday, and 1.3 million on Thursday. GHF did not appear to publish the number of meals distributed on Friday, but on Saturday said it released at least 1.7 million meals.
In a population of roughly 2 million people, this averages out to around half a meal to just under a full meal per person per day.
COGAT, the Israeli military branch responsible for overseeing aid into Gaza, allowed an average of around just under 230 trucks into Gaza each day from last Sunday to Thursday, according to data it has published online. It says those trucks add to 'hundreds' already in the enclave awaiting collection from aid groups, but has not shared the exact number. COGAT did not respond to a request for more information on the total number of trucks awaiting collection.
At least 920 aid trucks allowed into the enclave had been collected and distributed by the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations from last Sunday to Thursday, according to COGAT's data.
Before Israel's offensive in Gaza began, around 500 trucks carrying aid were entering Gaza daily, according to the British Red Cross and other organizations.
The below graph shows how the amount of aid entering Gaza soared during the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, before stopping during Israel's blockade, with only a trickle entering in the months after it was lifted.
Asked for the number of trucks allowed into Gaza and collected by humanitarian groups on Friday and Saturday, COGAT did not immediately respond.
While COGAT has shared information on trucks entering Gaza and being collected by aid groups on its social media pages over the past week, it has not updated its online dashboard on aid into Gaza since Monday, despite international focus on the matter.
According to the World Food Programme, only about two-thirds of the amount of food the U.N. organization has requested Israeli authorities allow into Gaza had been approved as of Thursday since the Israeli military began tactical pauses.
How Israeli restrictions caused the hunger crisis
The hunger crisis in Gaza drastically worsened in March after Israel imposed a blockade barring the entry of aid into Gaza, in the midst of its ceasefire with Hamas.
Israel lifted the crippling blockade in May, but for months, has only allowed a limited amount of aid to enter the enclave, most of which has been distributed by the U.S.- and Israel-backed group known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
COGAT did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on the accusation that the amount of aid entering Gaza is not enough. It has previously accused humanitarian groups, including the United Nations, of exacerbating hunger by failing to collect and distribute aid to Palestinians fast enough.
However, humanitarian organizations have said efforts to distribute the limited aid they've been able to get into Gaza has been hampered by Israeli restrictions. They've also emphasized that even after Israel vowed to lift some restrictions last Sunday, the amount of aid entering the enclave remains limited.
Meanwhile WFP has said it needs faster approvals and clearances to move trucks inside Gaza safely, as well as for Israeli military members to adhere to the 'established rules of engagement,' including having no armed presence or shooting near humanitarian convoys, food distributions and operations.
What is needed?
'This is not an adequate response,' Jeanette Bailey, the International Rescue Committee's global practice lead and director of research for nutrition, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
A gradual entry of aid 'here or there,' she said, 'is not going to be adequate to prevent us from entering into a full-blown famine where the numbers of deaths go way, way up.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
26 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Labubu Is Blowing Up Hopes of a Plastics Halt
The world's governments are meeting this week to hammer out a treaty to reverse the rising tide of plastics. Oil companies have other ideas. Far from cutting back their spending, refiners are planning to drown the noble ambitions of United Nations negotiators meeting in Geneva beneath a tsunami of polymers. That freaky-cute Labubu doll you just bought (made largely of polyester and polyvinyl chloride) and the bento meal you got delivered in four separate containers (polypropylene and polyethylene) are evidence that we need to work a lot harder to break our plastics habit.
CNN
2 hours ago
- CNN
Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues
Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues As the hunger and aid crisis in Gaza continues, CNN footage captures how children and the elderly are affected by the situation. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance reports. 01:00 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues As the hunger and aid crisis in Gaza continues, CNN footage captures how children and the elderly are affected by the situation. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance reports. 01:00 - Source: CNN Tornado hits Inner Mongolia Footage shows a tornado hitting Inner Mongolia on Monday. No casualties were reported from the incident, according to a state media report. 00:29 - Source: CNN Why Asia is one of the fastest-warming places in the world CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Tokyo and explains why Asia is warming faster than the global average, as Japan endures its hottest day ever recorded 01:03 - Source: CNN Satellite images show damage to Russian submarine base after tsunami Satellite images captured after the 8.8 magnitude quake show damage to a floating pier at Russia's submarine base in Rybachiy and raise questions about fleet readiness. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'I thought, do or die': How a Ukrainian soldier cycled to safety after Russian assault After a Russian assault left all three of his fellow soldiers dead and himself wounded, Andriy, stationed near Siversk, Ukraine, thought his life was over. But back at his command bunker, they hatched a plan. Armed with determination, a will to live - and a bike - he was able to escape. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN Moscow residents on Trump-Putin relationship As the relationship between President Trump and President Putin continues to deteriorate, with Trump threatening harsher sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is not reached, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen talks to Moscow residents about their thoughts on the tensions between the two countries. 02:02 - Source: CNN Desperation grows in Gaza as aid is airdropped CNN footage on Monday captured the desperation of hundreds of Palestinians in central Gaza as people rushed towards aid boxes that many rely on, as the hunger crisis continues. Six countries were involved in dropping 120 aid packages in total, according to the Israel Defense Forces. 00:34 - Source: CNN Hear from Israeli hostages' families after meeting with Witkoff Steve Witkoff, the United States' Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a nearly three-hour meeting with the families of those still being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, telling them that the US' 'first priority' is getting the hostages back to Israel, the forum said. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. CNN has reached out to Witkoff's team to confirm that he made these comments. 01:16 - Source: CNN Young Catholics flock to Rome for Youth Jubilee Pope Leo XIV received a rock star's welcome and led a prayer vigil with young people participating in the Jubilee of the Youth in Rome. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:53 - Source: CNN United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans' UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted. 02:09 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target. 01:38 - Source: CNN US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada. 00:30 - Source: CNN
CNN
3 hours ago
- CNN
Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues
Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues As the hunger and aid crisis in Gaza continues, CNN footage captures how children and the elderly are affected by the situation. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance reports. 01:00 - Source: CNN Vertical World News 16 videos Despair in Gaza as hunger crisis continues As the hunger and aid crisis in Gaza continues, CNN footage captures how children and the elderly are affected by the situation. CNN's Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Matthew Chance reports. 01:00 - Source: CNN Tornado hits Inner Mongolia Footage shows a tornado hitting Inner Mongolia on Monday. No casualties were reported from the incident, according to a state media report. 00:29 - Source: CNN Why Asia is one of the fastest-warming places in the world CNN's Hanako Montgomery reports from Tokyo and explains why Asia is warming faster than the global average, as Japan endures its hottest day ever recorded 01:03 - Source: CNN Satellite images show damage to Russian submarine base after tsunami Satellite images captured after the 8.8 magnitude quake show damage to a floating pier at Russia's submarine base in Rybachiy and raise questions about fleet readiness. 01:18 - Source: CNN 'I thought, do or die': How a Ukrainian soldier cycled to safety after Russian assault After a Russian assault left all three of his fellow soldiers dead and himself wounded, Andriy, stationed near Siversk, Ukraine, thought his life was over. But back at his command bunker, they hatched a plan. Armed with determination, a will to live - and a bike - he was able to escape. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports. 01:12 - Source: CNN Moscow residents on Trump-Putin relationship As the relationship between President Trump and President Putin continues to deteriorate, with Trump threatening harsher sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is not reached, CNN's Frederik Pleitgen talks to Moscow residents about their thoughts on the tensions between the two countries. 02:02 - Source: CNN Desperation grows in Gaza as aid is airdropped CNN footage on Monday captured the desperation of hundreds of Palestinians in central Gaza as people rushed towards aid boxes that many rely on, as the hunger crisis continues. Six countries were involved in dropping 120 aid packages in total, according to the Israel Defense Forces. 00:34 - Source: CNN Hear from Israeli hostages' families after meeting with Witkoff Steve Witkoff, the United States' Special Envoy to the Middle East, held a nearly three-hour meeting with the families of those still being held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, telling them that the US' 'first priority' is getting the hostages back to Israel, the forum said. Fifty hostages remain in Gaza, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive. CNN has reached out to Witkoff's team to confirm that he made these comments. 01:16 - Source: CNN Young Catholics flock to Rome for Youth Jubilee Pope Leo XIV received a rock star's welcome and led a prayer vigil with young people participating in the Jubilee of the Youth in Rome. CNN's Christopher Lamb reports. 01:23 - Source: CNN Witkoff visits controversial Gaza aid site US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff spent over five hours in Gaza, and visited the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid site. He said the purpose of the visit was to give Trump 'a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid to the people of Gaza.' CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports. 01:53 - Source: CNN United Nations' Relief Chief: If anyone can shift Israeli Government, 'It's of course, the Americans' UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour that if anyone can shift the Israeli government, it's the US, and addresses reports of how food aid is being intercepted. 02:09 - Source: CNN Amusement park ride splits in half in Saudi Arabia At least 23 people were injured, three of them critically, when a fairground ride buckled in Saudi Arabia, sending passengers crashing to the ground, according to state media. 00:33 - Source: CNN Soldiers in Ukraine battle Russian drones CNN's Nick Paton Walsh reports from the frontlines of Ukraine, where soldiers rush to bring in the wounded as drones constantly look for a target. 01:38 - Source: CNN US diminished a key weapons stockpile fighting Iran The US used about a quarter of its supply of high-end missile interceptors during the Israel-Iran war, exposing a gap in supplies, and raising concerns about US global security posture. CNN's Tamara Qiblawi reports. 01:35 - Source: CNN Carney says Canada will recognize Palestinian state Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has joined France and Britain in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations, as international pressure builds on Israel over the ongoing war and starvation crisis in Gaza. President Donald Trump reacted to the announcement by threatening to derail trade talks with Canada. 00:30 - Source: CNN
