With News Of A Deal, Humanitarians Stand Ready To Surge Aid Into Gaza

Aid Agencies Positioned for Immediate Response

Humanitarian organisations report they are on standby to move assistance into Gaza as soon as the ceasefire is implemented. Mercy Corps CEO Tjada D’Oyen McKenna stated the group has enough supplies at the border for more than 160,000 people, ready to support those forced into extreme conditions to stabilise, grieve and reconnect with communities. The United Nations has approximately 170,000 metric tons of food, shelter, medicine and other essential items stored outside Gaza, ready to enter via truck once the agreement takes effect. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres confirmed supplies are in place and teams are on standby to scale up food, water, medical and shelter assistance immediately.

Israel has agreed to reopen five crossings, initially allowing 400 aid trucks per day before increasing to 600 – the minimum number recommended by the United Nations to meet humanitarian needs. This increased access marks a significant shift from the severe restrictions that have characterised the blockade over the past two years, during which aid delivery was frequently impeded or denied. Aid workers emphasise that while the stockpiles are ready, the real challenge lies in ensuring safe, sustained access for humanitarian personnel and the removal of bureaucratic impediments.

The Egyptian Red Crescent has been actively managing aid warehouses near the Rafah crossing, a critical point for humanitarian entry into Gaza. Their facilities in Al-Arish have been stocked and prepared for rapid distribution once crossing protocols are finalised. This coordination between international agencies and local partners aims to create a seamless pipeline for assistance the moment security conditions allow.

Scale of Destruction Demands Massive Reconstruction Effort

Over the past two years of conflict, Gaza’s infrastructure has suffered catastrophic damage. Israeli military operations – which numerous credible organisations now characterise as genocide – have destroyed the territory’s healthcare system, sewage networks, agricultural land, bakeries, schools, cultural and religious sites, and more than 90% of homes. This widespread devastation has been compounded by a blockade that has restricted the flow of essential goods, pushing Palestinians toward starvation, disease and death.

Amroo Al-Zeer, senior protection officer for Project HOPE in Gaza, described the humanitarian crisis as extending far beyond physical injuries. ‘Homes lie in ruins, livelihoods have vanished, and families are fractured. Beyond physician devastation, deep psychological wounds now threaten both the present and the future,’ Al-Zeer said, emphasising that recovery from such trauma will require years, possibly a generation, of sustained mental health and psychosocial support. The human toll, she argued, cannot be reduced to statistics alone but is defined by profound suffering demanding urgent global action.

Displaced children have been photographed posing outside tents near the Nuseirat camp, a visual reminder of the protracted displacement crisis affecting much of Gaza’s population. With traditional housing largely obliterated, many Palestinians have been living in temporary shelters for months, facing exposure to the elements and limited access to sanitation or clean water.

Rebuilding Must Be Palestinian-Led and Rights-Based

Humanitarian leaders stress that any reconstruction effort must be led by Palestinians and grounded in the fulfilment of fundamental rights to prevent a return to violence. Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America, warned that rebuilding Gaza will be a ‘Herculean effort’ requiring international support and accountability ‘to prevent impunity and ensure the cycle of violence is not repeated.’ She insisted that negotiations on Gaza’s future must go beyond bricks and mortar to restore the foundation of daily life, rebuild shattered communities and create pathways to healing and hope.

This perspective underscores a growing consensus among aid organisations that physical reconstruction alone is insufficient without addressing governance, security and justice concerns. The international community faces pressure to ensure that aid is not only delivered efficiently but also contributes to long-term stability by supporting Palestinian institutions and upholding international law. Without such measures, critics warn that temporary ceasefires may simply precede renewed conflict.

Many Palestinians in Gaza, including aid workers, express cautious hope tempered by scepticism, citing Israel’s history of violating previous truces. A Palestinian Mercy Corps team member, speaking anonymously for safety, described the emotional whiplash of living in war one moment and being told peace has arrived the next. ‘A lasting ceasefire is needed, and this news is welcomed, but it is difficult to believe,’ they said, reflecting the deep mistrust that has accumulated over years of broken promises.

What this means

The ceasefire deal represents a critical first step toward alleviating the immense suffering in Gaza, but humanitarians are clear that the real work begins now. With aid stockpiles ready and distribution networks primed, the focus shifts to ensuring the agreement holds and that assistance can flow safely and consistently into the enclave. For the millions of Palestinians who have endured displacement, loss and trauma, the transition from war to peace will depend not only on the silence of guns but on the world’s commitment to rebuilding lives, restoring dignity and preventing the recurrence of violence. Until then, aid organisations remain on standby, waiting for the moment they can finally deliver the help that has been so long delayed.