Title: Discrepancy in Aid Truck Counts Raises Questions in Gaza
In a puzzling turn of events, conflicting data on the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has raised concerns about the distribution of much-needed supplies in the region.
According to U.N. data, a total of 533 aid trucks entered Gaza in the three days following Saturday. However, there was no increase in the daily average of trucks entering Gaza in the first week of April compared to the previous week.
The discrepancy in the numbers has been attributed to the differing methods used by Israel and the United Nations to track aid trucks. Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the U.N. humanitarian office, explained that trucks screened and counted by Israel at border crossings often enter Gaza only half full, as Israeli inspectors prohibit some of their contents. Once inside Gaza, the trucks are unloaded, repacked, and sent to U.N.-operated warehouses, where they are counted as full trucks, leading to a lower tally.
Furthermore, logistical challenges mean that trucks often do not pass through a crossing and arrive at a warehouse on the same day, resulting in discrepancies in the daily counts.
In response to the discrepancy, COGAT criticized the U.N.’s counting method, calling it “an attempt to conceal their logistical distribution difficulties.” Despite promises to scale up aid, Israeli inspections have kept the number of aid trucks entering Gaza lower than needed.
Aid officials also highlighted the challenges of distributing aid inside Gaza, particularly in the north where access has been denied by Israel to UNRWA, the main U.N. relief agency in the territory.
The conflicting data and logistical challenges underscore the urgent need for improved coordination and cooperation to ensure that aid reaches those in need in Gaza.
