The head of the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) has said the “insane” red tape at Egypt’s Rafah checkpoint to Gaza is slowing aid deliveries “to the limit”.

The number of trucks that can enter is a small fraction of the number that entered the Strip before the beginning of the conflict.

The United States is in talks with Israel, Egypt and the United Nations to try to establish a sustainable delivery mechanism.

While supplies of food, water and medicine have been restricted since Saturday, fuel has been banned.

This is because Israel is concerned that fuel supplies could be diverted to Hamas.

“We only got a few trucks, very few,” said Cindy McCain, WFP’s executive director.

“We need a large amount. We need safe and unhindered access to Gaza so we can feed ourselves and make sure people don’t starve, because that’s what’s happening,” she said.

McCain, who visited Egypt, said each truck must unload its cargo at a checkpoint for inspection and then reload after the inspection is complete.

“The bureaucracy is crazy,” she said.

She added that while she understands the need to check for weapons and ammunition smuggling, it should be easier to bring in food.