Israel has promised to improve the security for humanitarian aid workers in Gaza.
This is stated by the head of the American aid organization USAID.
In an interview with AP, Samantha Power, head of USAID, says that she has received Israeli promises that humanitarian aid workers will be able to move faster and more securely throughout the war-torn Gaza Strip. Israel is also said to have stated that the country has taken measures to increase the flow of aid through its port of Ashdod, just north of Gaza.
We have not seen the kind of system for humanitarian aid so far that has made it possible for aid workers to move effectively and safely to the extent needed, says Power.
She adds that they have now secured an agreement.
UN: The amount of aid at a record low
Since the war between Hamas and Israel began on October 7, following Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel, Gaza has been plunged into a humanitarian crisis. According to the UN, the amount of aid that has reached Gaza has been at record low levels since May.
Supplies have piled up at the Israel-controlled border crossings because, according to the UN, it is not possible to collect aid for distribution.
Israel claims that the country does not restrict the introduction of aid to Gaza and blames the bottleneck on logistical failures on the part of the UN – while the UN denies this and says that the military restricts access to the area, and that Israeli military operations against Hamas make it too dangerous to move around in the area.
Better communication
Trucks with aid have also been looted inside Gaza, which poses an additional challenge for aid workers.
According to Samantha Power, the US military and the UN will be able to communicate more closely with Israel's military in the future about the whereabouts of aid workers.
Israel's military has not commented on the reports.
