International

Rafah border crossing opens

The Rafah crossing has opened, with live footage showing trucks entering the border crossing from Egypt into Gaza, BBC reports.

Reuters
Sursa: Reuters

It's unclear how long the crossing will remain open for. Israel has so far agreed to allow 20 trucks into Gaza.

The aid convoy awaiting the opening of the Rafah border crossing is a "drop in the ocean" of the amount required in Gaza, a UN agency says.

Juliette Touma, from the Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, says there needs to be a sustainable flow of humanitarian aid.

"What civilians in Gaza really need is sustainable and continuous humanitarian access ... including and especially fuel for the water stations," she tells Radio 4's Today programme.

Israel has agreed to allow 20 trucks carrying aid into Gaza through the Rafah crossing, but has refused to allow fuel to cross the border.

However, Touma says fuel is essential to power water pumps - "water is running out in Gaza," she said. "In some places it has completely run out".

Bogdan Nigai

Bogdan Nigai

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