Gaza's rise in aid deliveries challenged by absence of engine oil needed for last functioning lorries

Gaza has seen a 33% jump in aid deliveries to the region in July compared to June, according to the UN, but the increased flow of supplies is being hampered by a lack of engine oil and spare parts for the remaining lorries. The UN and its partners transported around 35,000 tonnes, or 2,600 truckloads, of aid to Gaza in July, with 60% of it consisting of food, followed by smaller amounts of shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene and healthcare items.

The Private Transport Association in Gaza reported that two-thirds of the 1,200 lorries were either destroyed or damaged during the recent war, leaving only around 400 trucks operational. However, the shortage of engine oil, high fuel prices, and the lack of spare parts and replacement tyres have forced approximately 110 trucks out of service in recent months.

These shortages have significantly increased operating costs, with the price of engine oil for a single lorry skyrocketing from 450 Israeli shekels ($150) before the war to 100,000 shekels. Local humanitarian workers rely on these trucks to transport aid from the border crossings to warehouses and distribution centers throughout Gaza.

The breakdown of trucks has led to significant delays and reduced delivery of food aid, with some humanitarian organizations reporting that the number of truckloads reaching Gaza has dropped to around 600 instead of the initially planned 800. This lorry crisis has also negatively impacted the livelihoods of Gaza's truck drivers, with many losing their jobs due to the war, truck breakdowns, and Israel's restrictions on engine oil and spare parts.