UNITED NATIONS, June 2 (Xinhua) -- New, slower Israeli screening procedures at the only operational cargo crossing into Gaza have triggered significant congestion and delays for aid convoys, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that on Monday, Israeli forces began routing humanitarian convoys through a new road with a new checkpoint to reach the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem cargo crossing from inside Gaza.
"Humanitarian convoys have faced significant operational challenges at the new checkpoint including delays, congestion, malfunctions, and slow screening," OCHA said. "As a result, only some of the supplies planned to be collected from Kerem Shalom could be picked up."
Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem is the only operational cargo crossing since the Zikim crossing in the north has been closed for a second week.
According to the office, humanitarian teams are engaging the authorities to secure smoother access to the Israeli crossings along Gaza's perimeter and the reopening of additional routes.
OCHA's partners reported that decreasing stocks, ongoing restrictions on the entry of essential material and limited access to affected areas make it challenging to meet the daily needs of displaced people.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces on Sunday extended a military order that closes off three refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarm. The UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees indicated that more than 33,000 Palestinians from the camps have been displaced and not allowed to return since January 2025.
OCHA called for the lifting of movement restrictions and other policies that cause or prolong displacement or hinder access to basic services and sources of livelihood. ■
