Rafah media official reports on influx, outflux, and Gaza aid

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
29 Nov 2023 11:43

The media official at the Rafah Crossing says 200 trucks of aid entered Gaza on Tuesday.

Humanitarian aid trucks arrive in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. (AP)

The media official at the Rafah Crossing, Wael Abu Hasna, confirmed that 23 Palestinians, including nine injured, have passed through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt from the Gaza Strip.

Equivocally, Abu Hasna pointed out that the total number of arrivals from Egypt to the Rafah Crossing reached 271 individuals, including seven members of the United Nations delegation, four from the Turkish delegation, and 41 individuals from the UAE delegation. He added that 213 individuals were stranded at the crossing.

In regards to aid, the official confirmed the entry of 200 aid trucks, including four trucks containing cooking gas and three fuel trucks.

Nonetheless, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini pointed out a couple of days ago that the current aid being delivered to Gaza is insufficient to make up for the deep deprivation caused by the Israeli blockade on the Strip.

"Since … the beginning of the truce, we have seen a significant increase of trucks entering into Gaza. I would say on the first day we had an average of 40 trucks, which was far, far, far too little compared to the immense need in the Gaza Strip," Lazzarini said in an interview for CBS’ "Face the Nation."

"And now I would say over the last few days, we had an average of 160 to 200 trucks crossing Rafah and entering into Gaza. Having said that, I do believe that the 200 are hardly enough for the humanitarian response if we want to reverse the impact of the siege in the Gaza Strip, but we need also commercial flow," he said.

On Tuesday, the Chairman of the Egyptian State Information Service, Diaa Rashwan, said that "the Palestinian-Israeli ceasefire has proceeded without obstacles," pointing out that this is attributed to "the Egyptian-Qatari efforts and American participation."

Rashwan added that "Egypt has intensified its efforts with the onset of truce in its first phase, which will continue during the second phase."

He revealed that 2812 tonnes of medical aid 11427 tonnes of food, 8583 tonnes of water, and 1048 tonnes of fuel have entered the Gaza Strip since the onset of the truce.

"The total number of trucks that crossed through the Rafah crossing reached 2263 trucks."

Regarding the injured, Rashwan revealed that "Egypt received 566 Palestinian wounded, accompanied by 300 escorts, and allowed the passage of 8691 individuals of foreign nationals and dual citizens."

He also confirmed that "Egypt facilitated the entry of 421 Palestinians."