More than 100 aid trucks cross into Gaza as UN warns of ‘race against time’ to reach people in need – latest

Rushdi Abualouf
BBC News Gaza correspondent

Image source, Reuters

About 130 lorries have made it across the border into Gaza within the last three days.

Most of them are still waiting in warehouses belonging to international aid organisations.

This morning, the bakers put out a statement that they cannot produce food any more because there is not enough security to protect them.

On Thursday, as flour and fuel were being delivered to bakers in refugee camps, it was a chaotic situation as a mass of hungry people tried to take the goods.

A convoy of about 20 lorries came through, carrying flour with one carrying medicine, local authorities say.

As the convoy was approaching the middle of the Gaza Strip, it was attacked by what local journalists describe as “gangs” trying to loot them.

There was shooting at two of the lorries, and a small Hamas police unit exchanged fire with the looters.

After that, there were three Israeli air strikes in the area, killing six Hamas police.

Later, the Hamas government media officer released a statement, calling this a “massacre”.

This just shows how difficult and fragile the security situation is on the ground.

We need to remember that 100 trucks are not enough.

After 11 weeks of aid not being allowed in by Israel, the famine is looming. There is no fuel or gas to cook in Gaza, so 100 trucks is very little.

People believe they need at least 500 trucks every day for two months to change the situation.