Gaza food supply assessment, as of July 31, 2024

• An estimated 79,082–86,925 MT of food entered Gaza in July, compared to an updated estimate of 47,443-61,530 MT in June. The majority of this estimated increase is based on an uptick in commercial cargo amid a decline in humanitarian cargo. Increased approvals of commercial cargo entry into Gaza may not necessarily translate to improved food availability and access within Gaza, particularly given low household purchasing power. Additionally, these figures must be interpreted with an understanding of the data limitations and differences in reporting methodologies.
• The breakdown of food by entry point in July is as follows: 59,799-66,095 MT through Kerem Shalom crossing; 0 MT through Rafah; 175 MT via air drops; 3,635 MT through the U.S. pier (which closed on July 18); and 15,473–17,020 MT through the Erez crossing. Focusing on the most significant entry point – the southern crossing of Kerem Shalom – only 724 humanitarian trucks with food or mixed items entered in July, equating to roughly 5,035-5,566 MT, or only 8 percent of the total food entering through this crossing. The remaining 54,764-60,529 MT was from commercial trucks.
• When looking at a longer time series, the amount of humanitarian food supply entering Gaza through southern crossings in July is at the lowest level observed since October 2023 and only a quarter of the amount entering on average between November and May. Meanwhile, data suggest commercial food supply through these crossings has significantly increased. However, the trend in commercial imports draws on UNRWA data from November to April and Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) data from May to July, given data gaps limiting the use of a consistent source across months. COGAT and UNRWA data for Kerem Shalom and Rafah differ methodologically: COGAT reports trucks that have been inspected and transferred to the storage and processing area on the Palestinian side of the border, while UNRWA reports trucks they have dispatched from the border area into Gaza. Given significant congestion at crossing points, it is likely a portion of trucks reported by COGAT have not made it further into Gaza.
• Truck entries through Erez crossing show a similar trend: available data suggest between 213 and 315 humanitarian food trucks carrying between 3,430 and 4,977 MT of food entered in July. COGAT is the only source reporting commercial entries through Erez and listed 587 commercial food trucks, carrying an estimated 12,043 MT of food.
• In July, FEWS NET commissioned remote data collection in Gaza on market and trade functioning, collecting information through two different surveys: one that focused on household access to food on markets and reached 339 respondents, and one that focused on market and trade functioning and reached 105 market actors. The results of these surveys show high reliance on both humanitarian food assistance and market purchases, while food prices are high and market actors face significant constraints sourcing food.

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