Egypt on Tuesday dispatched a 200-truck humanitarian aid convoy carrying 2,700 tonnes of relief supplies from the Rafah crossing toward Kerem Shalom, Egypt’s state TV reported.

The convoy includes food from the World Food Programme, as well as fuel, medicine, and other medical supplies. The aid will undergo Israeli inspection before being allowed into the Gaza Strip.

This marks the 23rd convoy under an initiative launched on July 27 by the Egyptian Red Crescent.

The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has confirmed famine in parts of Gaza, citing severe hunger and life-threatening shortages of essentials.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, Egypt has provided over 70% of total aid to Gaza, delivering more than 550,000 tonnes via thousands of trucks.

However, about 5,000 trucks remain stalled at Rafah, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Gaza’s health authorities reported on Tuesday that Israel’s military campaign over the past 22 months has killed 62,819 Palestinians and injured 158,629.

In the past 24 hours, 75 bodies and 370 wounded were received at hospitals.

“Many victims remain trapped under the rubble and on roads, with rescue teams unable to reach them,” the health authorities said.

So far, famine and malnutrition have claimed 303 lives, including 117 children, since the onset of the conflict. 

(Xinhua/NAN)