A daily average of 120 truckloads of aid were allowed into Gaza last week, an improvement from recent level but still less than half the amount of aid allowed into Gaza last summer, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report on Tuesday. OCHA said the pledges of some $5 billion at the recent international donors conference for Gaza have yet to impact the overall humanitarian situation in Gaza, which remains unchanged. Access remains the crucial issue and while there is an up tick in the amount of aid, there is no change in the type of aid allowed into the Strip. Of the 720 trucks allowed in last week, almost 600 trucks were food aid. Construction materials remain on the list of goods prohibited despite the damage and destruction of some 14,000 homes during Israel's 22-day offensive. No fuel was allowed in last week and scarcity is creating a surge in the price of petrol and diesel. Israeli authorities also barred two pallets of UNICEF t-shirts from entering the Strip saying such items were not a humanitarian priority. The t-shirts were intended for girls in disadvantaged Gaza schools. In recent weeks, Israel has barred children's toys and early childhood education kits from entering Gaza. Schools remain damaged because of the absence of construction materials and aid workers are using nylon sheets to cover up damaged windows in schools. Water and waste management systems remain inadequate, OCHA says, because pipes and spare parts continue to be barred, heightening the risk of disease.
