WHO explains why humanitarian aid being airdropped into Gaza isn’t the best option now
Staff members unload aid for the Gaza Strip from an Emirates cargo plane on the tarmac of Egypt’s el-Arish airport on Thursday.
(Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images)
Gaza’s border crossings have been closed since the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. The Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, has been under an Israeli blockade for approximately 16 years since Hamas came to power. Prior to the Israel-Hamas war, the approximately 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza heavily relied on aid. However, when the border crossings were closed, the delivery of aid ceased, leading to a rapid deterioration of the enclave’s healthcare system.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Egypt would be allowed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. In response, President Biden stated that Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi had agreed to allow 20 trucks of humanitarian aid through the Rafah border crossing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the possibility of airdropping aid into Gaza during a press conference on Tuesday.
“That option has been discussed, but we would require the same clearances as opening the border crossing. It would only be a temporary solution,” stated Dr. Rick Brennan, WHO’s regional emergency director.
Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, further elaborated on why airdrops are not the ideal choice at this time. He said, “Airdrops can be a lifesaving intervention, but the amount of aid that can be delivered through airdrops is significantly lower compared to trucks and overland routes. Additionally, there are far too many people in need of assistance in Gaza. The scale of airdrops required would be massive.”
Dr. Ryan emphasized that there would also need to be efficient logistical arrangements on the ground to receive and distribute the aid packages. He stated, “The simplest, safest, and most effective way to provide aid to the people of Gaza is through the Rafah crossing at present. This operation is complex and extends beyond merely opening or closing the border gate. It necessitates high-level diplomacy between multiple countries. The violence must cease, the bombing must stop, and we must ensure assistance reaches the people of Gaza.”
