Getting aid into Gaza will be "an absolute marathon," a regional representative for the World Health Organization said on Thursday following a deal made between US President Joe Biden and his Egyptian counterpart.
"It's a start," WHO director says of agreement for up to 20 trucks of aid to enter Gaza |
Speaking to CNN, Dr. Richard Brennan, the WHO’s Regional Emergency Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, said there were “a lot of complexities to getting this aid operation going.”
On Wednesday, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi agreed to open the Rafah crossing into Gaza for humanitarian aid, according to Biden.
“It’s a start," Brennan said of the up to 20 trucks being allowed through under the initial agreement. |
The aim is to get up to 100 trucks of aid distributed per day, Brennan added.
“This is not a sprint. This is just the start. This is a marathon. An absolute marathon,” he said. “We hope it’s not a non-starter."
Brennan also noted that the need for aid has escalated as water shortages have impacted Gazans.
“We're hearing figures now that suddenly people only have three liters of clean water per person per day," said Brennan, adding that an “absolute minimum” was 15 liters for drinking, cooking and basic hygiene.
Source: CNN News
