Airdropping food is a last resort
Since the horrific events of Oct. 7 in Israel, escalating violence has killed over 30,000 people in Gaza. Now, starvation is adding to the death toll. In December, the World Food Program sounded the alarm on the risk of famine in Gaza, identifying all 2.2 million residents to be in a dire food crisis.
The two recent United States airdrops of 38,000 meals barely scratched the surface of the need. They supplied enough food to feed a mere 1.7 per cent of the population, twice.
The first of these airdrops took place last week and occurred over the coast, partly landing in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel imposes and enforces fishing restrictions and uses lethal force toward those who venture too far from the shore. Let’s hope aid packages didn’t sink.
The Geneva Conventions obligate occupying powers to protect civilians. This includes ensuring sufficient access to food and health care; protecting civilian infrastructure; and allowing the unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid.
Last Wednesday, Jan Egeland, the secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, lamented Israel’s import restrictions at the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings: “There has not been a single day we have gotten the needed 500 trucks across. The system is broken and Israel could fix it for the sake of the innocent.” More aid trucks must be allowed entry.
If the United States considers airdrops to be the solution to the hunger crisis affecting 2.2 million people, they will need to repeat such airdrops 50 times every day. That’s unlikely. Airdrops are the logistics solution of last resort. They are expensive, imprecise and woefully inefficient. Airdrops introduce chaos and rob people of dignity.
The safety risks to people on the ground were sadly confirmed this Friday when five people were killed by falling aid packages after parachutes failed to open. Aid should be distributed by humanitarians based on need — but with airdrops, a combination of luck and physical strength dictates who gets to aid first, exacerbating inequity.
While top of mind today, food aid is just one of the many urgent humanitarian priorities in this protracted crisis. Gazans have urgent unmet needs for shelter, clean water, health care, education, jobs and the protection of their human rights.
Historically, Canada has been a champion of human rights and a pioneer in peacekeeping. However, our late calls for a ceasefire, our military exports to Israel and our lacklustre support to refugees fleeing Gaza are tarnishing our national reputation.
Instead of participating in airdrops of trivial amounts of food aid, which the government is considering, Canada should advocate for real solutions.
It is time to call for an end to the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, increased aid flow, strict compliance with international humanitarian law, improved humanitarian access, an end to the violence and the resumption of a peace process.
What is a reputational crossroads for Canada is a life-ordeath catastrophe for Palestinians. It is time for Canada to course-correct away from participation in symbolic airdrop charades and towards advocating for what is right.
CHRIS HOUSTON IS THE FORMER HEAD OF LOGISTICS FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IN YEMEN AND HAS MANAGED LOGISTICS AND HUMANITARIAN HEALTH PROGRAMS FOR THE CANADIAN RED CROSS AND DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA AND AFRICA. HE TEACHES HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.