Hanan Balkhy, head of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean region, made the remarks as the US military began delivering aid through the $230m floating pier again after it was removed a second time because of rough seas, Al Jazeera reports.

“The pier has supported a little bit but it’s not to the scale that is needed by any stretch of the imagination,” Balkhy said.

“So we need to emphasise the land routes to ensure the amount and the quantity and the efficiency.”

Since Israel launched its ground operation into Rafah, aid deliveries have declined 67 per cent, with more than 50 WHO trucks stuck on the Egyptian side of the crossing.

Meanwhile, just three of its trucks have been allowed into Gaza through the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, it said.