Cairo: The Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC) launched Egypt's 91st 'Zad Al-Izza" convoy to Gaza early on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, carrying over 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid, along with more than 45,000 blankets, 25,900 winter clothing items, and 10,225 tents to support families facing harsh winter conditions.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the convoy includes over 6,200 tons of food baskets, more than 2,600 tons of essential medical and relief supplies, and 1,200 tons of petroleum products. Since October 2023, Egypt has led the largest and most sustained humanitarian operation to Gaza, delivering more than 665,000 tons of aid through the Rafah and Karm Abu Salem crossings.
The effort is coordinated by the ERC, which operates a nationwide logistics network and a volunteer force of over 35,000 to manage and dispatch aid. To date, Egypt has coordinated with 59 countries, handled 943 relief flights and 617 maritime shipments, and facilitated the entry of 214 ambulances, 91,000 tons of fuel, and four field hospitals into Gaza despite the ongoing Israeli blockade.
Inside the strip, the ERC and partner agencies have provided more than 86,000 family-link services, 171,000 relief services, 260,000 medical services, and cash support to 2,800 families. Launched on July 27, the Zad Al-Izza: From Egypt to Gaza initiative has become the backbone of Egypt's daily aid delivery, transporting over 130,000 tons of food supplies to date.
The latest convoy comes as Gaza braces for a severe winter storm as Storm Byron pushes across the Eastern Mediterranean, bringing heavy rainfall, powerful winds, and a high risk of flooding. Forecasts indicate that precipitation levels could reach up to 100-150 millimeters in parts of the region, well above seasonal norms, raising alarms over the fate of hundreds of thousands of displaced families living in exposed tents and makeshift shelters.
Early reports from northern Gaza show flooded camps and water-logged tents, compounding the already fragile humanitarian conditions as temperatures drop. The storm comes amid growing concern over the health of Gaza's children.
According to a United Nations assessment, some 9,300 children were treated for severe acute malnutrition in October, the first month after the ceasefire. While lower than the August peak, UN officials described the figure as 'shockingly high,' warning that aid levels entering the strip remain far below what is needed.
Relief agencies say therapeutic feeding programs are struggling to reach many families due to ongoing access restrictions, soaring food prices, and the destruction of health facilities. Humanitarian agencies caution that the convergence of severe malnutrition, collapsing sanitation systems, and a powerful winter storm presents an acute risk of disease outbreaks and further displacement.
Flooded tents, contaminated water sources, and insufficient winter supplies are expected to deepen the crisis, particularly for children whose weakened immune systems make them highly susceptible to illness.