Why Airdropping Aid into Gaza by the US Won't Solve the Humanitarian Crisis

The US, along with other countries, has started airdropping aid into Gaza to help with the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Despite efforts to deliver aid on land, the numbers are not enough to prevent famine in the area. The airdrops are seen as a crucial lifeline for the people in Gaza.

A closer look has been taken at the use of airdrops in warzones.

The UN and aid agencies have raised concerns about their effectiveness in alleviating the situation. These concerns were highlighted on Friday when malfunctioning parachutes led to aid pallets falling from the sky at high speed, resulting in the tragic death of five unsuspecting civilians.

What are airdrops?

The UN carried out its first airdrop in August 1973 and since then they have been used by aid agencies and governments  to deliver food to conflict zones across the globe.

Packages of food and medicines are usually wrapped with six layers of packaging and sewn together using a handheld stitching machine. Different colors are used by agencies to indicate the contents of the packages, with the World Food Programme using white for cereals, red for pulses, and blue or green for specialized nutritious food.

The packages are then loaded onto aircraft before being dropped via parachute from heights ranging from 300 to 5,600 meters above, as stated by the World Food Programme (WFP).

This is not the first time the US government has conducted airdrops over conflict zones. In 2001, food packets were dropped over Afghanistan along with leaflets to help civilians distinguish between airdrops and cluster bombs. In 2014, during the height of Islamic State's presence in Iraq, aid was dropped in areas facing shortages of food and water.

Do these airdrops effectively help those in need?

Airdrops are a quick way to deliver supplies to conflict zones without facing the thorough inspections at land checkpoints. However, aid agencies believe that the disadvantages of airdrops far outweigh their advantages.

Airdrops are pricier compared to land deliveries, costing up to seven times more, according to the WFP. In addition, they have a much lower delivery capacity. For instance, one truck can deliver nearly 10 times the amount that one aircraft can - around 20 to 30 metric tonnes, as reported by the UN.

Richard Gowan, the UN Director of the International Crisis Group, pointed out that humanitarian workers often criticize airdrops as being good for photo ops but not very effective for delivering aid.

In Gaza City, Gaza on February 26, 2024, a child is crying among others holding empty containers and pans. They are all waiting to receive hot food being distributed by charitable organizations. Palestinians are facing difficulties in obtaining basic food supplies because of the embargo imposed by Israeli forces. (Photo by Omar Qattaa/Anadolu via Getty Images)

GAZA CITY, GAZA - FEBRUARY 26: A child is seen crying amid others with empty containers, pans as they all wait to receive hot food distributed by charitables and charity organization in Gaza City, Gaza on February 26, 2024. Palestinians are unable to obtain basic food supplies due to the embargo imposed by Israeli forces. (Photo by Omar Qattaa/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Omar Qattaa/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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Experts have raised concerns about the preparedness of countries to handle aid once it arrives on the ground. The UN special rapporteur for food, Michael Fakrhi, has pointed out that airdrops often lead to chaos.

Fakrhi expressed his views on Friday, stating, "Dropping aid into areas with starving people who have been denied humanitarian assistance is a recipe for chaos. It is not fair to blame the affected population for the chaos that ensues."

The US administration has acknowledged the challenges of using airdrops for delivering aid to people in Gaza. White House spokesperson John Kirby admitted to CNN that airdrops are not the most effective method for providing assistance, highlighting the desperation of the situation.

Palestinians have raised practical concerns about the airdrops. Mahmoud Shalabi, a senior program manager at the NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), pointed out that some of the meals require microwaves, which are not accessible due to the lack of electricity. Shalabi, speaking from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, mentioned that the food packages received so far have only been sufficient for two to three meals.

Abdel Qader Al Sabbah, a Palestinian journalist from northern Gaza, mentioned that the current aid being sent includes the wrong type of meals. He suggested sending essential items like flour, rice, oil, salt, seeds, and beans instead, so that people in the area can make various meals with these ingredients.

But why exactly are airdrops being conducted?

Aid agencies have been expressing concerns about the insufficient aid reaching Gaza. Even before the conflict, Israel imposed strict restrictions on the movement of goods to and from Gaza through land crossings. The controls became even tighter after Israel implemented a "complete siege" on Gaza following the October 7 attacks.

Israel is conducting security checks on goods entering Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. They are also inspecting goods that have passed through Israeli crossings before reaching Egypt's entry point into Gaza, the Rafah crossing.

A recent CNN investigation revealed that authorities are implementing arbitrary and conflicting controls on these goods. The goal is to prevent the entry of "dual use goods" that could potentially be used to strengthen Hamas militarily.

Between October 10 and February 1, an average of 95 aid trucks per day entered Gaza, a significant decrease from the 500 trucks per day before the war, as reported by the Palestinian Red Crescent. The challenges of delivering aid through roadways have led some countries to resort to airdrops, much to the concern of organizations like the UN, who believe airdrops should only be utilized as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted.

Special Rapporteur for Food, Michael Fakhri, mentioned that airdrops and maritime piers are typically used in situations where humanitarian aid needs to be delivered to enemy territory. These methods are considered as last resort measures, according to Fakhri, emphasizing the importance of exhausting all other options before resorting to such methods.

Israel refuted allegations of restricting aid into Gaza, stating to CNN that they actively support and enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Former US Aid official, Dave Harden, criticized airdrops to Gaza as risky and costly endeavors that serve more to benefit the Biden administration by masking a significant policy failure.

Aid agencies like Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) are urging the US to shift its focus towards pressuring Israel to permit more aid into Gaza via road, as the threat of famine grows.

Avril Benoît, US Executive Director for MSF, stressed that the issue at hand is not a logistics problem but a political one. Instead of relying on the US military to find alternative solutions, Benoît emphasized the importance of immediate humanitarian access through the existing roads and entry points in Gaza.

CNN’s Louis Mian, Sana Noor Haq, Nadeen Ebrahim and Lauren Kent contributed to this article 

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding the use of airdrops as a means of delivering humanitarian aid in conflict zones. While airdrops can provide a quick and direct way to reach those in need, their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness have been questioned by aid agencies and experts.

The tragic incident in Gaza, where malfunctioning parachutes led to the death of five civilians, underscores the potential risks associated with airdrops. Concerns have also been raised about the preparedness of countries to handle the distribution of aid once it arrives on the ground, as well as the suitability of the aid packages themselves, which may not always meet the specific needs of the population. The article also sheds light on the political factors that can hinder the delivery of aid through land crossings, highlighting the need for diplomatic efforts to ensure unrestricted humanitarian access.