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Although the access route from Egypt starts functioning this week, aid groups confront significant difficulties providing assistance to northern Gaza, the area worst hit by hunger, specialists report.

Access Issues

Key roads are practically impassable due to massive destruction across the devastated territory – or remain controlled by military units. Any truck that breaks down is probably will be instantly looted.

Zikim, the main entry point to the northern region, damaged by two years of fighting, has been shut down for several weeks, and authorities have notified humanitarian organizations in Gaza that there are no current intentions to activate the crossing, according to aid workers.

Destruction in Gaza City

The northern urban center was the objective of a significant armed campaign begun in August that was continuing when the peace agreement was agreed upon a week ago.

Destruction in the northern area has been extensive, with entire towns including Beit Lahiya and adjacent communities in destroyed as well as many of the outlying areas of the urban center.

"Any activation of a border point into Gaza is beneficial, but we need to make sure we can help civilians where they are," stated an experienced official from a relief agency.

Humanitarian Situation

Witnesses said many of the estimated 300,000 people who have come back to the north from the densely populated southern area where they had been sheltering during the Israeli offensive were now "camping" among the debris of their homes, often without any protection and with scarce food or water.

A representative from an international organization said the destruction in the northern territories was "overwhelming".

"It is block after block, home after home ... there is massive desperation for clean water. It's pretty harrowing. We need each access route open," the representative, who was in the urban center in recent days, said.

Restricted Access

A community leader based in the urban center said the requirements in what used to be the area's thriving business and cultural hub were "immense".

"There is positive expectation and optimism but there needs to be quick improvement on the border points. We haven't seen any significant change on the reality yet," the representative commented.

"We continue to receive a small quantity of aid [and] we are just beginning to comprehend the extent of devastation. Multiple thoroughfares are completely covered in debris ... there is scarcely a building that is secure. We see destruction and live explosives across the region."

Ongoing Developments

In recent days, relief groups said modest volumes of vital cooking gas entered Gaza for the initial occasion in seven months, along with shipments of flour, rice and fresh vegetables. The recent deliveries sent prices in markets tumbling.

Within a central community, a civilian said there had been certain progress since the ceasefire.

"Stores are containing products, fresh goods, and fresh fruit, although the prices are still high and not accessible for the entire population," the resident said.

Colder Months Preparations

"Our most important needs now, specifically due to the arrival of colder weather, are to have a shelter to protect us from the cold weather and winter clothes because the shops do not have adequate garments for us or, if they exist, they are scarce and extremely pricey."

Nine UN-supported food preparation facilities in various locations have restarted operations since the peace agreement.

Aid Delivery

Trucks were announced to have come through the border access point from Israel to Gaza during recent days, though specific quantities were uncertain.

Israel's media outlet stated that Wednesday's humanitarian shipments would include food, treatment resources, energy sources, propane and tools to restore crucial facilities.

"Relief supplies continues to enter the Gaza territory through the humanitarian corridor and additional routes after Israeli security inspection," an government spokesperson commented.

Allocation Problems

But counting the quantity of vehicles could be misleading, advised a specialist from a relief agency. "It's crucial to understand what is in the vehicles and how full they are for it to be a genuinely useful metric," the official added.

Private companies are sending fleets of trucks loaded with sweets, carbonated beverages and snacks, which have minimal health benefits, while emergency treatments for minors or people who have been without proper sustenance for two years are limited.

Medical Conditions

Throughout the main city, only seven healthcare facilities are functioning, compared with numerous in summer.

Various groups have significant funding of humanitarian goods stockpiled around Gaza pending distribution. An international organization assisting the population across the area for decades has multiple months of supplies of nutrition for all residents ready to be delivered.

"We maintain the resources, the equipment and the capabilities ... we just need the access," said a humanitarian staff member, who recently came back from Gaza.

Diplomatic Factors

A proposed plan specifies that "complete" aid should reach Gaza and be distributed through international organizations and the Red Crescent, without interference from both combatant organizations or national security.

This appears to exclude the disputed government-supported relief agency which commenced activities in earlier this year, resulting in uncontrolled circumstances and multiple fatalities as large groups of people gathered around its assistance centers.

Humanitarian workers in Gaza {told|informed