It is good that more emergency response enters Gaza via the new port, but this is just a band-aid. All border crossings must be opened – and not just for emergency response , but also commercial goods so that trade can get started.

In addition, everyone with influence must push for an end to the violence. Humanitarian actors can do little when the violence continues and they themselves are the targets of the bombing.

Caritas has more than 100 local staff in Gaza, who were there long before October 7. Since then, they have been retrieving emergency supplies from their own warehouses and distributing food, water and hygiene products through various stores. They also distribute cash assistance so that people can buy what they need in the markets, which also keeps the local economy going.

Then emergency response were dropped from planes, we were skeptical. Not that people would get help. But because there was no functioning distribution system, and because this form of food distribution violates the humanitarian principles – which in turn should ensure that there is no chaos. Instead, that is exactly what happened and the food ended up on the black market. With the new port, our colleagues are again skeptical. Because how will the emergency aid be distributed when there is no fuel, and when no safe access is provided on the other side?

emergency response sent by plane and boat is expensive and unsustainable. The only solution would be to open all borders to emergency response and commercial goods so that the economic economy does not collapse completely. Even though much of the infrastructure in Gaza is destroyed, we must ensure that what is there is used.