Humanitarian aid intended for Gaza has been discarded in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish after expiring while waiting to be delivered to the besieged enclave. This aid, which came from various countries around the world, was meant to alleviate the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza. However, with the Israeli military controlling the border crossings, including the Philadelphi Corridor and the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, the flow of aid has been halted indefinitely.
Trucks loaded with food and medicine have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the border for months, with some aid items expiring or no longer fit for consumption. Local residents have gathered around the sites where aid is being dumped, salvaging what they can before it spoils. Meanwhile, the standstill in aid delivery is worsening Gaza’s already dire humanitarian crisis, with aid groups warning of a high risk of famine.
Despite efforts to clear the congested streets of Al-Arish from parked aid-loaded trucks, the situation remains challenging. Aid trucks have been directed to the desert hinterlands as warehouses are overflowing with supplies. The mishandling of expired aid disposal has also raised concerns, with local residents taking portions for their own use or selling it in markets without proper oversight.