Cairo – Suppose you are among the hundreds of thousands of South Africans whose hearts are shattered, feeling helpless in the face of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. In that case, the African Muslim Agency (AMA) team in Cairo wants to reassure you that, through your prayers and donations, they are diligently working to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians.
In a Salaamedia interview, AMA volunteers Dr Mueen Saley and Asger Khan guided us through their warehouse, where they package blankets, food hampers, and sanitary products. Against a convoy of trucks ready for dispatch at sunset, Dr Saley characterised the situation as a massive collaboration involving various global humanitarian organisations.
Despite encountering challenges, Khan highlighted the impressive synergy among the relief agencies, all focused on packaging, loading, and transporting the trucks to their intended destination.
“There’s a great synergy. Often, we’ve had more than one organisation in a warehouse, and we tend to give each other our space. We tend to have a good working relationship with all the organisations.”
Despite the convoy being filled with much-needed humanitarian aid, Khan emphasised that more support is still required, given the humanitarian crisis affecting the Palestinians in Gaza.
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Trucks Making Its Way Across the Rafah Crossing
Since the declaration of genocide in Gaza by Israel, they have imposed blockades, conducted bombings, and maintained control over every entry point into the enclave. These actions have contributed to one of the most severe humanitarian crises of the 21st century.
The blockades, affecting crucial supplies such as food, water, electricity, medication, and fuel, have resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths, including women and children. Survivors of this deprivation are still at risk, facing bombings or shootings, irrespective of their religious beliefs and their Palestinian or Israeli identity.
Although the number of trucks entering Gaza has risen under international pressure since Israel’s declaration, it remains insufficient. According to Dr Saley, on December 16, the number of trucks entering Gaza was approximately 121.
However, the turnaround time for unloading these trucks could be better. According to on-the-ground estimates, the offloading process takes approximately 15-18 days.
“In terms of the number of trucks that have been crossing, on the 16th of December, 121 trucks crossed through the Rafah border. So although it’s not enough and slow, I think the most important fact is to understand that the trucks are getting across.”
Addressing the concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the delivery of supplies to organisations operating in Gaza and ultimately to the people, Khan stated that nearly 100% of the supplies have successfully reached their destination, apart from some medicinal items which are blocked from entering by the Israeli army.
