The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has dropped significantly in recent weeks, raising concerns over worsening living conditions and increasing health risks in displacement camps.
UN data has shown a clear decline in aid deliveries, even as hundreds of thousands remain reliant on assistance for survival.
Among them is Um Raed al-Najjar, a displaced woman from Jabalia. She lost her four children in a strike on her home, and her husband underwent a leg amputation, leaving the family entirely dependent on aid that is no longer sufficient to meet their basic needs.
"The closure of the crossing affects us greatly because aid decreases, and so does food. The food parcel we receive is not enough for the whole month, but we rely on it because we have no other source of income," she said.
According to UN data, the average number of aid trucks dropped to around 60 per day during the war with Iran, compared to about 95 before, which is far below what is needed to meet the population's basic needs.
"They say in the news that the crossings are open, but these are all lies. The world is hearing pure lies. The crossings are only open for about 50 trucks. That is not enough. Before the war, between 600 and 1,000 trucks entered daily, and even that did not meet the needs," said Akram Bardaa, another displaced Palestinian.
Humanitarian organizations warn that the crisis extends beyond food shortages, highlighting the worsening sanitation and deteriorating public health conditions in overcrowded camps.
"Let us be clear, not enough humanitarian assistance is entering Gaza, not enough essential goods. Right now we're seeing essentially a sanitation crisis across the Gaza Strip. You see an increase in pests like rodents, like insects. We have issues in terms of addressing sewage and waste, when you have limits on what is able to be brought into Gaza to address some of these [problems]," said Pat Griffiths, spokesperson of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
The World Health Organization says more than 17,000 cases linked to rodents and parasites have been recorded among displaced people in Gaza since the start of the year, underscoring the mounting challenges they face as conditions continue to deteriorate.
Gaza faces deepening crisis with aid disrupted
Gaza faces deepening crisis with aid disrupted
South Africa's sugarcane sector, a cornerstone of the country's agriculture, stands ready to further integrate into the vast Chinese market as the zero-tariff policy for African countries officially takes effect.
China's Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced Tuesday that from May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, the country will grant zero-tariff treatment to 20 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and are not classified as the least developed countries.
This follows the country's earlier decision to grant zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines, effective from Dec 1, 2024, for the 33 least developed African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations.
In effect, the zero-tariff treatment has been expanded to cover all 53 African countries that maintain ties with China.
In KwaZulu-Natal province, one of South Africa's traditional agricultural powerhouses, local farmers are hopeful that their sugarcane products will soon reach Chinese consumers.
Pratish Sharma, a sugarcane grower in the province, has witnessed the industry endure an unprecedented winter of challenges, including volatile international prices and trade barriers. When he heard of China's zero-tariff policy, however, his hope returned.
"It'll make trading in China a lot easier. It will create a better revenue stream for exports of sugar to China. And agreements like these assist in rejuvenating our economy within the industry and making us more viable," the farmer said.
Official data shows that China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade exceeding 53.5 billion U.S. dollars.
Yet, the country's agricultural products currently account for only 0.4 percent of China's total agricultural imports, indicating huge growth potential.
Kulani Siweya, market and trade policy director at the South African Sugar Association, sees greater opportunity ahead for the country's roughly 25,000 registered sugarcane growers.
"Main regions or destinations are the U.S., Europe. [We are] exporting about between 35,000 to 70,000 tonnes to the China market. South Africa stands ready to give you quality sweet sugar that will satisfy the Chinese palate," said Siweya.
Beyond sugar, South African specialties such as citrus, macadamia nuts, wine, and other high-quality agricultural products are also expected to gain broader market access in China. This has encouraged farmers like Sharma to experiment with a wider range of crops.
"I've converted 18 hectares of sugar cane into macadamias. So that process of diversification has already begun. And with trade initiatives such as the zero-rated making all of us more sustainable and viable," Sharma said.
John Steenhuisen, South African Minister of Agriculture, said China's zero-tariff initiative will help reshape the agricultural sector.
"The tariff-free access that's been granted us is going to be a game changer for not only citrus but also for the entire agricultural sector. We're now going to be able to compete with excellent quality wines and other agricultural goods in that market in a far more competitive basis," said the minister.
South African sugarcane growers eye sweeter exports as China's zero-tariff policy for Africa takes effect
