October 31, 2024 War news from the Middle East

ARISH, EGYPT - OCTOBER 16: Trucks carrying aid destined for the Gaza Strip are parked on the side of the road on October 16, 2024 in Arish, Egypt. A British delegation has visited Al-Arish Hospital, where injured Palestinians are being treated, as well as a warehouse housing humanitarian aid since the Rafah crossing was closed in May. (Photo by Ali Moustafa/Getty Images)

The amount of aid entering Gaza has fallen to the lowest level since the start of Israel’s war in the enclave, UN data show.

Only 836 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip so far this month, according to data collected by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA.

Before the war, an average of 500 trucks carrying aid and trade entered the strip every day.

Figures released by COGAT, the Israeli agency coordinating aid to Gaza, show that dozens of aid trucks enter Gaza daily, but hundreds wait for “collection” within the territory. On Wednesday, for example, it noted on its X account that 670 emergency trucks were “awaiting pickup,” without specifying the cause of the robbery.

According to COGAT, 24,000 tons of aid entered Gaza so far in October, compared to the year’s high of 137,000 tons in April.

Some background: The UN and COGAT aid figures often differ, mainly because they count aid trucks differently.

Israel counts trucks arriving at its border crossings for inspection and entry, while UN agencies count trucks in Gaza arriving for distribution.

Wednesday’s figures come after the Biden administration sent a letter to the Israeli government earlier this month demanding it take action to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days or risk Violate U.S. foreign military assistance laws, indicating that U.S. military assistance could be at risk. .