Aid Agencies Slam Gaza Air Drops as ‘Grotesque Distraction’ Amid Worsening Starvation

Leading aid agencies have issued a stark warning, labeling the focus on air drops into Gaza a “grotesque distraction” that fails to address the territory’s rapidly deteriorating starvation crisis. Their concerns come as Israel announced humanitarian aid air drops and corridors, with the UAE and Jordan also preparing for similar operations.

Critics, including Ciarán Donnelly of the International Rescue Committee, argue that air drops are inherently insufficient, stating they “can never deliver the volume or the quality” of aid required. This sentiment is echoed by Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa), who on Saturday described air drops as “expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians” if mishandled. Lazzarini emphasized that land routes remain the most effective, safer, and dignified method for aid delivery, noting that Unrwa has the equivalent of 6,000 trucks of aid awaiting entry in Jordan and Egypt.

The dire humanitarian situation continues to worsen, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reporting five additional deaths due to malnutrition on Saturday, bringing the total to 127 since the conflict began, including 85 children. The World Food Programme warns that one in three Gazans are enduring days without food, highlighting a “man-made mass starvation” crisis.

The debate over air drops stems from the persistent failure to get sufficient aid into Gaza via traditional land routes. While Israel maintains there are no restrictions on aid, the UN and aid groups counter that bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of political will are severely obstructing their ability to collect and distribute aid within the Strip. Previous attempts at air drops, such as the UK’s delivery of 110 tonnes last year, have been deemed woefully inadequate, with analyses suggesting over 160 plane loads would be needed for a single meal for Gaza’s entire population.

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