Jordan, UAE air drop aid into Gaza after Israel's 'pause' in war. Will it solve the hunger problem?

Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) began air-dropping aid into the Gaza Strip as Israel announced it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of the region and allow in air corridors. This was after visuals of starving Gazans alarmed the whole world. The Benjamin Netanyahu-led government has been facing constant backlash on the international level for the "man-made" famine in Gaza.

As per the BBC, dozens of empty trucks were seen heading in convoys toward three different locations: Zikim crossing in northern Gaza, Kissufim crossing in central Gaza, and the Kerem Shalom crossing in the far south-east of the Strip.

However, the air drops of aid might not be the solution to the issue, as the cargo planes used to drop the aid are not capable enough to carry enough amount of humanitarian aid needed in the strip. As per the official figures released by US Central Command, each C-130 cargo plane carried about 12,500 “meals” per trip. So in order to send meals for each of Gaza’s approximately two million population, around 160 flights would be needed in a single day.

Jordan and the UAE have around 20 C-130s only. Hence, the issue of hunger remains in the strip, if there were not to be any additional way of sending the aid.

'No starvation in Gaza'?

The Israeli military on Sunday (July 27) announced “tactical pauses” in fighting for “humanitarian purposes” in parts of Gaza amid rising criticism over the worsening hunger crisis spreading in the Palestinian enclave. The military said it would cease activity in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City from 10 am to 8 pm (0700-1700 GMT) until further notice, areas where it had not renewed ground operations since March, when it resumed its Gaza offensive. Designated secure routes for convoys delivering food and medicine will also be in place permanently from 6 am until 11 pm, the military said.