World Food Program reopens bakery in northern Gaza

The United Nations World Food Program reopened its bakery in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday.

The bakery bakes 650,000 pita breads in a day. The bakery joins another two bakeries that reopened in the central Gaza Strip last week.

More than 23 bakeries are currently operating in the Gaza Strip, producing over 3 million pitas a day.

Last week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Israel published the list of promises made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the political and security cabinet to increase humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza.

The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator for the "Occupied Palestinian Territory," Jamie McGoldrick, noted that "in recent days, Israel has recognized the extent of the immense suffering in Gaza and its ability to allow the increase of humanitarian aid to the people who need it."

According to McGoldrick, a better functioning coordination cell will be established that links humanitarians directly with the IDF Southern Command. In addition, plans to open Erez Crossing temporarily to move much-needed food, water, sanitation items, shelter, and health materials from Ashdod port.

Plans to increase the number of trucks entering through the Allenby Bridge crossing towards Gaza from 25 to at least 50 per day. It was also agreed to expand the operating hours of Kerem Shalom and Nitsana crossings while anticipating an increase in the number of trucks scanned by an additional 100 trucks per day.

Deployment of additional scanner and staff capacity at Kerem Shalom crossing to accelerate the transfer of aid into Gaza. Assurance for approvals to activate 20 bakeries in North Gaza and for the Nahal Oz water line in North Gaza to restart.