Cairo: Egypt dispatched its 29th humanitarian convoy to the Gaza Strip as part of ongoing efforts to counter what Cairo has criticized as an Israeli "war of starvation" and "collective punishment."
According to State Information Service Egypt, the convoy, loaded with essential supplies including food staples like sugar, flour, oil, rice, legumes, and baby formula, as well as medical supplies, departed from the Egyptian side of the Rafah border towards the Karm Abu Salem crossing controlled by Israel. This initiative, known as Zad El-Ezza: From Egypt to Gaza, began on July 27, five months into an Israeli blockade that has drawn international condemnation.
The initiative is a collaborative effort organized by the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) and the United Nations (UN). On August 22, the UN's Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such declaration in the Middle East. The Palestinian health ministry reported 185 deaths due to malnutrition in August, raising the total death toll from starvation to 361 since the conflict began in October 2023, including 130 children.
The ministry highlighted the dire situation, with 43,000 children under five years old suffering from severe malnutrition and 67 percent of pregnant women in Gaza being anemic. The IPC predicts worsening conditions by the end of September.
Despite Egypt's humanitarian efforts, Israeli inspections at the Karm Abu Salem crossing continue to hinder aid delivery. Over 5,000 trucks are stuck on the Egyptian side, with some food supplies rotting due to delays. Medical and fuel supplies face restrictions, and fewer than 100 trucks are allowed into Gaza daily, far below the UN's recommended 600 to 800 trucks needed to prevent mass starvation.
Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty, described the situation as a "continuing humanitarian catastrophe" and called for international pressure for an immediate ceasefire at the Bled Strategic Forum. He condemned forced displacement and Israel's starvation policy. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, speaking at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus summit, characterized the conflict as a "war of starvation" aimed at undermining the Palestinian cause.
Since the conflict's onset, Egypt has contributed over 70 percent of all aid reaching Gaza, delivering over 45,125 truckloads carrying 500,000 tons of essential supplies. Of this, 368,000 tons were provided directly by Egypt, with the remainder from international donors. The aid also included 209 ambulances and 81,380 tons of fuel.
El-Arish airport has received over 1,000 flights with 27,247 tons of international aid, and the town's port has handled 32 ships carrying 74,779 tons of relief materials. Additionally, Egypt's military conducted 168 airdrops, delivering 3,730 tons of supplies.