The World Food Programme director for the Palestinian territories on Thursday called for more crossings to be opened into the Gaza Strip in order to allow in more aid trucks.

A major challenge since the ceasefire began on October 11 has been getting enough aid into Gaza — and distributed — to meet the huge demand.

Speaking from Jerusalem, Antoine Renard said the challenge since the start of the ceasefire is to secure the number of humanitarian trucks going into the territory.

Some 600 trucks are expected to arrive in Gaza on a daily basis, with a mix of commercial goods and donations from countries.

That is in addition to the aid convoys.

“With only two crossings that are open, you are facing clearly congestion,” Renard explained.

The United Nations tracking system has recorded 949 aid trucks that were offloaded in Gaza since the ceasefire began.

With the ceasefire in place, the WFP is once again able to access its distribution list as people begin to return to their place of origin and aid groups are able to reach them.

It has 36 distribution centers, including nine in Gaza City, already operational and aims to get back to 145.

It also plans to reopen bakeries in Gaza City on Thursday.

Opening more crossings, especially into northern Gaza, and easing Israeli restrictions on spare parts needed for repair and equipment for humanitarian assistance, would also ensure that more aid reaches people.

Israel bans several items it deems as having "dual-use" over concerns they could be diverted for military purposes.

The WFP and other aid organisations say that items needed for fixing bakeries, expanding trucking capacities such as tires or any items that are needed for the humanitarian programs and expanding local production lines need to be allowed in.