Overview: Aid Deliveries Stuck in the North Gaza Crises
The United Nations said aid convoys continued to struggle delivering relief to famine-hit areas in north Gaza, hampered by war-damaged roads and the ongoing closure of key crossings. Despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and a daily average of around 560 metric tons of food entering the Gaza Strip in recent days, the UN warned that this level remains far from what is needed to avert a broader humanitarian catastrophe.
Why North Gaza Is Most Vulnerable
UN humanitarian officials have sounded the alarm that famine conditions have taken root around Gaza City and along the northern corridor. The areas most affected by the fighting are the parts of Gaza where hospitals are overburdened and essential services have all but collapsed. The World Food Programme (WFP) and its partners emphasize that reaching these communities requires sustained and rapid access through secure routes and functioning road networks, which have been repeatedly disrupted by hostilities.
On-the-Ground Challenges
WFP spokesperson Abeer Etefa told reporters that while there is “a narrow window of opportunity” opened by the ceasefire, the path to scale up relief is constrained by damaged infrastructure and blocked routes. She noted that while convoys carrying wheat flour and ready-to-eat food parcels are moving from the south, their movement toward and within the north is severely impeded by broken roads and the continued closure of critical border crossings like Zikim and Erez.
The Scale of Need vs. Deliveries
According to the WFP, the daily influx of around 560 metric tons of food remains well below what is required to meet the population’s needs in the north. UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher, who traveled to Gaza to assess the situation, said that thousands of aid vehicles would need to enter weekly to begin to reverse malnutrition, homelessness, and the deterioration of critical infrastructure. Fletcher’s statements underscore the gap between humanitarian pledges and the practical delivery of assistance on the ground.
Health and Humanitarian Consequences
Non-governmental organizations operating in Gaza warn that many civilians still lack access to basic medical care. MSF (Doctors Without Borders) highlighted cases where patients in Gaza City could not access clinics promptly for routine dressings and emergency care, leading to infections and preventable complications. In the long term, the suspension or slow pace of aid distribution aggravates food insecurity, water scarcity, and the risk of disease outbreaks in crowded shelters and damaged neighborhoods.
What’s Next?
The UN emphasizes the importance of restoring and maintaining safe, predictable corridors into northern Gaza. Aid agencies are calling for sustained humanitarian access, better security guarantees for convoys, and a rapid scale-up of food and essential supplies. As WFP and partners push to intensify operations, the international community faces pressure to translate ceasefire concessions into tangible relief for families who have endured months of siege and bombardment.
Voices from the Field
UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher reaffirmed the commitment to delivering aid: “I’m in Gaza, supporting our teams as they deliver our 60-day plan to massively scale up lifesaving work.” The exchange between relief workers and community groups in the field remains a critical channel for identifying gaps and redirecting resources where they are most needed.
With limited openings into north Gaza and a fragile security environment, humanitarian agencies will continue to navigate a complex landscape to reach those most at risk. The coming days are pivotal as aid organizations assess how to maximize the impact of every convoy, every ton of food, and every medical supply delivered to a population teetering on the edge of famine.
