The US is set to begin airdrops of food and emergency supplies into Gaza in the coming days, as announced by Joe Biden.
This decision comes after Israeli troops fired on Gazans who were seeking food aid, and following UN warnings of famine.
Airdrops are a remarkable yet ineffective method of aid delivery, and Friday’s announcement indicates that Biden has abandoned the idea of convincing Israel to organize a substantial ground-based relief operation in the face of widespread starvation in Gaza.
Critics argued that it was merely a symbolic act, masking Biden’s hesitancy to pressure Israel into improving the distribution of humanitarian assistance.
“Airdrops are not the solution to alleviate this suffering, and divert time and effort from established solutions to provide help on a large scale,” stated the International Rescue Committee aid organization.
“The primary diplomatic priority should be to secure the lifting of Israel’s blockade on Gaza.”
Biden Unveils Urgent Aid for Gaza Amid Crisis
“The loss of life is heartbreaking,” stated Biden during the announcement at the White House while meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
There is a sense of desperation among people, leading to innocent individuals being affected by a devastating conflict, leaving them unable to provide for their families.
The response to their attempts to seek aid was evident.
“We must take further action, and the United States is committed to doing so,” the president emphasized.
“In the upcoming days, we will collaborate with our allies in Jordan and other partners to deliver airdrops of extra food and supplies to Gaza.”
The Jordanian and French air forces have conducted airdrops. This method of distributing food during a crisis is both costly and poorly managed.
Unfortunately, food truck access has fallen short of expectations and needs. There are numerous trucks filled with aid that are currently stranded at Gaza’s border, facing obstacles primarily due to security issues.