The United Nations is hoping a second convoy of trucks will be sent into Gaza tomorrow under a light inspection system that will allow relief deliveries to scale up into next week, its humanitarian chief has said.

“I’ve been hearing this afternoon — but we’re in negotiation on it right now — that we may get another convoy tomorrow, maybe even slightly bigger, 20 to 30 trucks,” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said in an interview on the sidelines of a conference about Gaza in Cairo.

“It’s incredibly important that there is no gap in the aid going across the border,” he said. “What needs to happen crucially is that we agree, and we are in discussion, tough but fair discussion, with the Israelis on a verification regime.”

“We need from tomorrow to build up a light, efficient, random hopefully, inspection system that will not slow things down,” said Griffiths.

“It’s a lot of people and they are in serious trouble. As you know the health system is on its knees. Water is running out. People are talking about only drinking dirty water,” he added.