Aid delivery to Gaza: A humanitarian's journey of coordination, negotiation and collaboration

Alexia Guillaume (?????? ?????) is an Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer with the OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo (ROMENA), based in Egypt. Prior to joining OCHA, she worked for several years on protection and human rights in the MENA region. Since early April, she has been deployed to Al-Arish city, which has become a logistical hub for the humanitarian aid crossing into Gaza through the Egypt corridor.???

*This interview was conducted on 18 June 2024 and reflects the situation in Gaza at that time.

What is the process of humanitarian aid reaching Egypt and how it enters Gaza???

The Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) has been coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid from Al-Arish into Gaza via the Egyptian border crossing of Rafah and through Kerem Shalom since October 2023.?

Humanitarian supplies sent through the Egyptian corridor are either procured locally or internationally through Egypt’s sea and airports before being brought to Al Arish. From there, they are screened and dispatched into Gaza from ERCS’ logistical hub. The Rafah crossing is meant to be used to channel supplies from ERCS and national NGOs, but also fuel and commercial items. It is also to be used for transporting UN/INGO cold-chain supplies and for rotating UN/INGO international staff in – and out of Gaza. On the other hand, the Kerem Shalom crossing is specifically dedicated to UN/INGO supplies but is also used by the ERCS and national NGOs on an ad hoc basis, and for private sector supplies.?

We must notify Israeli authorities of all humanitarian supplies through a manifest prepared by the ERCS and communicate to the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) for approval the day before. This manifest is prepared, to the extent possible, based on needs identified by the OCHA-led humanitarian response operation. On the day that aid is expected to cross the border, it undergoes multiple inspections on both Egyptian and Israeli sides before it can be dispatched to people in Gaza.??

Importantly, everything we do in Al-Arish is in support of the Gaza response. Accordingly, we liaise with our OCHA colleagues in Gaza as much as possible to ensure the aid that is dispatched from Egypt corresponds to the priorities identified by humanitarian partners in Gaza.?

As of today, 18 June 2024, no trucks have been able to pass from Egypt into Gaza through Rafah since the crossing was closed on 7 May, following the start of the Israeli ground offensive in the area. ?Trucks movement through Kerem Shalom was suspended between 6 and 25 May for the same reason, but eventually resumed as of 26 May, albeit with difficulties. The hostilities and various impediments have made it difficult to collect assistance from that crossing.??

What is your role in Al-Arish city???

My role is to facilitate the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Support Team, which includes UN humanitarian technical experts from various entities, namely UNDSS, UNICEF, UNRWA, WFP, WHO, and the Logistics Cluster. We work together to support ERCS and streamline the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, in coordination with the Egyptian authorities.?

I also oversee the coordination of UN/INGO supplies dispatched to Gaza, in collaboration with the Logistics Cluster and in consultation with OCHA colleagues in Gaza. This entails negotiating with relevant entities to address logistical bottlenecks and challenges and ensure a smooth humanitarian supply chain. We work closely with the ERCS, local authorities and other humanitarian partners to support a holistic and coordinated response.?

I also ensure timely and accurate information sharing on the Al-Arish operation in relevant coordination forums with donors, UN agencies and INGOs to inform relevant decision-making processes and adjust our response accordingly. I support advocacy efforts, particularly by briefing high-level delegations from member states and senior officials visiting Al-Arish. Our main objective is to increase awareness of humanitarian needs and challenges, build trust in the multilateral system and ensure a regular flow of information for a more effective response.?

What are the main challenges you are facing????

Once loaded, the trucks go through a complex process of multiple inspections, screenings, and repeated transshipments, which can be unpredictable and cause delays. The main issue is that any delay means that thousands of people who literally depend on this aid, won’t get the help they need. It is a huge responsibility for all of us, and so disempowering when there is nothing we can do to overcome logistics obstacles.?

When trucks can’t move from Al-Arish, awaiting crossing at Kerem Shalom, protecting supplies from looting and weather conditions are real challenges. Drivers are working under very difficult conditions, forced to station in Al-Arish for days, waiting to proceed to the border.??

Ensuring that aid entering Gaza meets the many needs of the Palestinian people in such a difficult operational environment is a challenge in itself.??

Aid entry into Gaza from the Egyptian route has been heavily affected since the start of a ground offensive in Rafah in early May. This is particularly concerning given the ever-increasing needs in Gaza that exceed any other crisis globally.??

Reflecting on your humanitarian experience, what is one thing you would like to share with humanitarians??

I want to emphasize the importance of building long-term engagement with local partners and communities. This has been an essential feature of my work in Iraq, OPT, and Egypt. By listening to local counterparts and especially the communities we serve, and being attentive to their needs, truly helps us build local capacities, foster vital partnerships, and ultimately create a lasting positive impact that extends beyond our temporary relief efforts.??

Maintaining flexibility and adaptability in our strategies is equally crucial, as the context and needs on the ground are constantly evolving. Our role in coordinating humanitarian work is essential for optimizing the impact of assistance, ensuring that it reaches those who need it most in a timely, efficient, and accountable manner.??

Efforts that are coordinated with local stakeholders enable a quicker and more effective response to emergencies. When different organizations and agencies collaborate, they can mobilize resources and expertise rapidly, reduce the time it takes to provide assistance to affected populations and most of all, avoid duplication.?