About 20 trucks carrying food, water and medical supplies are idling less than a kilometer from the Rafah border crossing in Gaza. 

In response to Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, Israel cut electricity and most water, while stopping deliveries of food and medicine to Gaza's 2.1 million residents who have been rapidly running out of basic supplies. 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency said that before the blockade, about 500 trucks a day would enter Gaza supplying aid.

The humanitarian needs of Gazans have been exacerbated by the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian people from the north of Gaza to the South after an evacuation order from the Israeli army on October 12.

What's in the trucks?

The United Nations (UN) describes the contents of the convoy of vehicles as 'lifesaving aid' which has been provided by the UN, world governments and charities. There is a range of supplies which includes:

Food: The World Food Program estimates that it has enough for nearly 300,000 people waiting at the border. But these first 20 trucks will deliver a few hundred tons of ready-to-eat food, including nearly 20 tons of fortified biscuits which contain added micronutrients to improve their nutritional quality.

Water: For days Gaza has had no electricity and residents now have severely limited access to clean drinking water, according to the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. Bottled water will be included but residents can also source water from the sea. However, without fuel which is critical for pumping stations and the desalination process, which removes salt - they will soon be unable to produce drinking water. 

Shelter: Other essentials to ease the suffering of displaced people such as tents, blankets, clothes.

Basic essentials: The Red Crescent society is also at the border waiting with water, mobile latrines and so-called dignity kits to address the needs of 150,000 people. A Dignity Kit includes personal hygiene products such as sanitary pads, toothpaste and brushes, soap, washing powder, combs and underwear. 

Medical Supplies: The trucks contain medical supplies that can treat around 1000 injured people. Other medical supplies are also included for ongoing medical issues with enough medicine for around 1,500 people suffering from heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. However, with estimates that the bombings have injured over 12,000 people - higher than in any of the previous wars on Gaza - hospitals are overwhelmed and further hampered by a lack of electricity, and water, with Gaza medics fearing the healthcare system is near collapse. 

As the siege continues, UNRWA has been unable to bring in any supplies since October 7 and has now relocated its center of operations to southern Gaza, nearer to the Rafah border crossing in anticipation of the aid trucks arriving. 

Find out more about conditions on the ground from UNRWA Agency Spokesperson Juliette Touma here.