US Joins Airdrop Efforts to Provide Aid to Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis
In the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the United States has joined several other countries in airdropping aid to provide a lifeline to the people in need. The situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with land deliveries of aid falling short of the necessary numbers to prevent famine. However, there are concerns about the effectiveness of airdrops in alleviating the crisis, as demonstrated by a tragic incident where malfunctioning parachutes caused aid pallets to plummet from the sky, resulting in the death of five civilians.
Airdrops have been used by aid agencies and governments since 1973 to deliver food and medicines to conflict zones worldwide. These packages are meticulously prepared with multiple layers of packaging for protection and are color-coded to indicate their contents. The World Food Programme (WFP) specifies that the packages are dropped from aircraft at varying altitudes ranging from 300 to 5,600 meters.
This is not the first time the US government has resorted to airdrops in conflict zones. In 2001, food packets were dropped over Afghanistan, accompanied by leaflets explaining how civilians could differentiate between airdrops and cluster bombs. Similarly, in 2014, aid was dropped into areas of Iraq affected by the presence of the Islamic State.
While airdrops offer a speedy way of delivering supplies without the rigorous examinations at land checkpoints, aid agencies argue that their drawbacks outweigh their benefits. Airdrops are significantly more expensive than land deliveries, costing up to seven times as much, according to the WFP. They also have limited delivery capacity compared to trucks, with one truck capable of delivering nearly ten times the amount that one aircraft can transport.
Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group’s UN Director, describes airdrops as “good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid.” Experts question whether countries have adequate plans in place for the aid once it reaches the ground. The UN special rapporteur for food, Michael Fakrhi, warns that airdrops often result in chaos when aid is thrown into the wind, reaching starving people who have been denied humanitarian access.
The US administration acknowledges the pitfalls of airdrops, with White House spokesperson John Kirby admitting that they are not an ideal way of delivering aid to Gaza. Palestinians have also raised practical concerns, such as the need for electricity to use microwaves for meals and the inadequacy of food packages that only provide enough for two to three meals.
The decision to carry out airdrops is driven by the fact that not enough aid is reaching Gaza. Israel’s restrictions on access to and from Gaza, as well as the tightening of controls following the October 7 attacks, have severely limited the entry of goods through land crossings. A CNN investigation reveals arbitrary and contradictory controls on goods entering Gaza, aimed at preventing the entry of items that could serve military needs for Hamas.
The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has significantly decreased since the war, prompting countries to resort to airdrops. However, organizations like the UN argue that airdrops should only be used as a last resort when all other options have been exhausted. Special Rapporteur for Food, Michael Fakhri, emphasizes that airdrops and maritime piers are typically employed when delivering aid into enemy territory.
Israel denies claims that it is limiting aid into Gaza and asserts that it facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid. However, a former US Aid official, Dave Harden, criticizes airdrops as dangerous and expensive ventures primarily aimed at masking policy failures.
As the threat of famine looms larger, aid agencies like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) urge the US to focus on pressuring Israel to allow more aid into Gaza through existing roadways and entry points. MSF’s US Executive Director, Avril Benoît, emphasizes that the issue is not a logistics problem but a political one.
In conclusion, the US has joined airdrop efforts to provide aid to Gaza amidst a severe humanitarian crisis. While airdrops offer a speedy alternative to land deliveries, their drawbacks and limitations have raised concerns among aid agencies. The decision to resort to airdrops reflects the insufficient amount of aid reaching Gaza due to restrictions and tightened controls. However, organizations like the UN argue that airdrops should only be used as a last resort. As the situation worsens, there is a growing call for the US to pressure Israel to allow more aid through existing roadways and entry points.