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Although the access route from Egypt becomes operational in the coming days, humanitarian organizations confront substantial difficulties providing aid to northern Gaza, the region most severely affected by food shortages, specialists report.

Infrastructure Issues

Key roads are virtually impassable due to widespread damage across the devastated territory – or remain occupied by Israeli forces. Any truck that stops working is probably will be quickly plundered.

The main entry point, the primary access route to the northern region, damaged by 24 months of war, has been inactive for multiple weeks, and Israeli officials have told aid groups in Gaza that there are no immediate plans to activate the entry location, according to aid workers.

Destruction in Northern Territories

Gaza City was the target of a major Israeli offensive launched in August that was ongoing when the peace agreement was agreed upon recently.

Destruction in the northern region has been extensive, with whole settlements including urban centers and neighboring towns in destroyed as well as many of the outlying areas of the main city.

"Any opening of a border point into Gaza is welcome, but we need to ensure we can access populations where they are," said a senior director from a relief agency.

Aid Situation

Observers said many of the estimated 300,000 people who have returned to the north from the overcrowded coastal zone where they had been sheltering during the Israeli offensive were now "camping" among the debris of their homes, often without any housing and with limited supplies or resources.

An official from an international organization said the destruction in Gaza City was "shocking".

"It is street after street, building after building ... there is urgent requirement for water. The situation is dire. We require all the crossings operational," the spokesperson, who was in the urban center in recent days, said.

Limited Entry

A local director based in the urban center said the necessities in what used to be the territory's bustling commercial and cultural hub were "overwhelming".

"People have this optimism and hope but there needs to be quick improvement on the border points. We didn't witness any significant change on the reality yet," the representative commented.

"We continue to receive a small quantity of assistance [and] we are just beginning to grasp the degree of damage. Multiple thoroughfares are overwhelmed by ruins ... there is scarcely a building that is safe. We see destruction and live explosives everywhere."

Recent Progress

Recently, aid agencies said small quantities of essential fuel entered Gaza for the first time in multiple months, along with shipments of grain products, cereal and farm products. The new supplies sent prices in markets tumbling.

Within a central community, a community member said there had been certain progress since the ceasefire.

"The markets are containing products, fresh goods, and produce, although the rates are still high and not accessible for everyone," the person commented.

Winter Needs

"The crucial necessities at present, especially with the coming of the cold season, are to have a tent to keep us safe from the cold and warm garments because the stores do not have enough clothes for us or, if they are available, they are extremely limited and prohibitively costly."

Several internationally-backed bread-making centers in central and southern Gaza have begun working again since the peace agreement.

Aid Distribution

Vehicles were announced to have passed via the border access point from Israel to Gaza during the week, though specific quantities were uncertain.

Israel's public broadcaster announced that Wednesday's humanitarian shipments would include food, healthcare equipment, energy sources, propane and materials to restore crucial facilities.

"Humanitarian aid continues to enter the conflict region through the border access point and other crossings after Israeli security inspection," an Israeli security official commented.

Allocation Complications

But monitoring the quantity of vehicles could be misleading, warned a specialist from a relief agency. "We must determine the contents of the trucks and how full they are for it to be a truly significant indicator," the representative stated.

Business entities are dispatching convoys of transports loaded with chocolate, fizzy drinks and light food, which have minimal health benefits, while urgent medical support for young people or others who have gone without sufficient nutrition for an extended period are unavailable.

Treatment Conditions

Throughout the main city, only few nutritional outpatient clinics are functioning, compared with numerous in earlier this year.

Many agencies have millions of dollars in assistance materials warehoused around Gaza pending distribution. An international organization working with Palestinians across the area for many years has extended provisions of sustenance for all residents ready to be delivered.

"We possess the supplies, the instruments and the expertise ... we just need the access," said one aid worker, recently returned from Gaza.

Governmental Factors

A proposed plan outlines that "full" assistance should reach Gaza and be allocated through international organizations and the Red Crescent, without disruption from either military groups or national security.

This seems to prevent the disputed Israel-backed aid group which began operations in May, leading to uncontrolled circumstances and multiple fatalities as numerous individuals assembled around its distribution sites.

Humanitarian workers in Gaza {told|informed