A group of eight humanitarian aid organizations has released a joint 'scorecard' criticizing the Israeli government for failing to meet criteria set out by the US to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The scorecard, released on the 30-day deadline set by US officials, highlighted the worsening conditions in northern Gaza due to Israeli actions.
The aid organizations, including Anera, CARE International, and Save the Children, noted that Israel not only failed to meet the US criteria but also took actions that exacerbated the situation on the ground. The release of the scorecard follows a letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging Israel to take concrete measures to address the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.
According to the scorecard, there was 'non-compliance, significant delays, or backtracking' on 15 of the outlined measures, with only 'partial or inconsistent implementation' on four. None of the measures showed 'full or significant progress,' indicating a lack of improvement in the situation.
The measures that were completely unmet included allowing a minimum of 350 trucks of humanitarian aid per day to enter Gaza and reinstating a minimum of 50-100 commercial trucks per day. The lack of humanitarian and commercial assistance has led to a severe food shortage in the region, with reports indicating that people are now having a meal once every couple of days, mostly consisting of canned food.
The scorecard also highlighted the failure of the Israeli government to institute 'adequate humanitarian pauses,' rescind unnecessary evacuation orders, ensure continuous humanitarian access to northern Gaza, and enhance security for humanitarian sites and movements. The report noted that Israeli forces had attacked humanitarian sites and aid workers, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 aid workers since October 3.
Despite warnings from the US, the Israeli parliament voted to ban UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, further complicating the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The State Department has emphasized the importance of improving humanitarian assistance in Gaza and is actively engaging with the Israeli government to address the issues raised in the scorecard.
The effectiveness of international diplomatic efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza depends on the willingness of the United States and other countries to push Israel to comply with the outlined priorities.
