A convoy of food is attacked on a road that was supposed to be safe. A child waits at a distribution point for food that never arrives. These are not rare incidents. They are the expected outcomes when politics, violent conflict, and logistics prevent aid from reaching people in war zones.
This article discusses the main obstacles that hinder aid delivery, making it difficult or sometimes impossible, how MOAS operates within this chaos to save lives, and why small charities and local teams are more important than ever.
Why Is It So difficult?
These are the 8 barriers to aid delivery to active conflict zones. Some interact and overlap.
- Active fighting and insecurity
Ongoing combat often makes safe passage impossible. Front lines move. Active fighting forces convoys to halt or reroute. Aid deliveries in Gaza are halted by frequent strikes and hostilities, making road movements dangerous or impossible. In Sudan, clashes on key corridors close towns for days.
- Direct attacks on aid workers and facilities occur when parties ignore international law, spread misinformation about aid groups, or lose control of their fighters. Humanitarian staff, clinics, and ambulances are targeted or threatened, with Gaza experiencing very high fatalities among humanitarian workers. In Ukraine and Sudan, ambulances and hospitals have been struck. The harm inflicted is often deliberate or clearly reckless towards aid and health services.
- Access restrictions imposed by authorities
Parties that control borders, crossings, and checkpoints decide who can move. They may keep gates shut or allow only small amounts of aid. In Gaza, controls at crossings and route limitations reduce the flow of food and fuel. This occurs because access is used as leverage in war to pressure opponents and populations.
- Legal and procedural bottlenecks
Even when access is granted, permits, inspections, and sanctions rules delay delivery. States and donors try to prevent diversion and follow the law, but in war, these systems become cumbersome and slow. In Sudan, multiple authorities issue conflicting permits. In Gaza and Syria, complex approvals and sudden rejections hinder shipments. - Damaged infrastructure and logistics
Wars destroy roads, bridges, ports, warehouses, and hospitals. Fuel is in short supply. Cold chains collapse. In Ukraine, hundreds of medical facilities have been damaged since 2022. Poor roads and a lack of fuel prevent trucks from reaching isolated areas.
- Information and communication gaps
This point builds on the broken infrastructure. Teams need up-to-date data on needs and routes. Network blackouts and GPS jamming hinder planning, increasing the risk of ambushes, duplication, or missed communities.
- Money movement and banking barriers
Aid organisations need cash on the ground, but banks and payment platforms block or delay transfers to high-risk contexts. This happens due to compliance with sanctions and counterterrorism rules, as well as a fear of fines. Reputational risk encourages banks to derisk.
Some crowdfunding for Gaza has even been frozen or refunded. Without cash, local partners are unable to pay staff or buy supplies, even when goods are available nearby. - Funding shortfalls and timing
Needs grow faster than available funds. Appeals for Gaza and Sudan run into billions but remain far from met. Early in the year, only a small share of global needs is funded. Without predictable money, agencies cannot pre-position stock or retain staff, so even when access opens, delivery stays small.
A simple chain explains the collapse. Fighting and attacks increase risk. Authorities respond with strict controls. Paperwork and banking regulations cause further delay. Infrastructure damage and blackouts slow movement and reduce safety. Funding shortages mean fewer teams and less stock ready to be dispatched. The result is thin, sporadic deliveries that fail to meet basic needs.
How MOAS operates inside these constraints
MOAS operates in several areas where access is challenging. Our medics and drivers evacuate critically injured patients from frontline areas in Ukraine.
In Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, we provide medical supplies and therapeutic food to combat malnutrition. We collaborate with trusted local partners and health authorities to ensure supplies reach clinics and feeding centres.
- Managing insecurity
In Ukraine we try to keep a low profile so that our locations and movements are not widely known. This reduces the risk, but it cannot eliminate it entirely. Last year, one of our bases in Ukraine was struck, showing how fragile safety is even with precautions. - Navigating bureaucracy
We handle as much as possible in advance, including securing permits, completing paperwork early, and triple-checking with the relevant authorities. This preparation helps, but it does not eliminate delays. We adapt as best we can, but these hold-ups mean medicine or therapeutic food can take longer to reach clinics than planned. - Working with local partners
Our local partners are vital. They understand how to navigate the conflict, which areas to avoid, and how to respond promptly when situations change. They take the lead in delivering aid. - Funding shortfalls
Like all humanitarian organisations, MOAS faces funding gaps. These deficits currently threaten our operations in Ukraine. Without renewed support, evacuations of critically injured patients could slow down or even halt. This is why we ask those able to contribute to donate and help keep these vital services operational.
By remaining flexible, collaborating closely with local partners, and preparing thoroughly, we continue to reach people who would otherwise be left without assistance.
What needs to change to get aid through
The barriers to humanitarian aid are not unavoidable. Many breach international humanitarian law (IHL) and fundamental principles of humanity, neutrality, and impartiality. Tackling them requires practical measures and legal accountability.
- Protect aid workers and facilities.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) prohibits attacks on medical staff, ambulances, and convoys. Enforcement can be achieved through monitoring, reporting, ICC (International Criminal Court) prosecution, and pressure from the UN.
- Guarantee safe access
Civilians must receive aid without interference. Neutral intermediaries, such as the ICRC, can facilitate access. Violations should trigger diplomatic or economic consequences. - Simplify bureaucracy
Permits and sanctions rules often delay aid. Governments and donors should create exemptions and rapid clearance systems. - Predictable funding
Flexible, multiyear funding allows pre-positioned supplies and retained staff.
Enforcing international law involves documenting violations, identifying violators, applying sanctions, and supporting neutral mediators. Although risks cannot be fully eliminated, legal and reputational pressure helps reduce deliberate obstruction. These measures would enable more people in conflict zones to access life-saving aid consistently.
Final Thoughts
Providing aid in war zones is rarely straightforward. Conflict, bureaucracy, attacks, and funding shortages create multiple barriers that leave millions without fundamental necessities. Stronger international enforcement, reliable funding, and secure access are crucial to saving lives. Every contribution, policy change, and effort to uphold humanitarian law brings us closer to reaching those who need help most.
To hear more from us, interact regarding plans or opportunities and give feedback to our team, you can engage with us on social media or email [email protected]. To donate to our work please visit www.moas.eu/donate or get in touch to talk to a member of our fundraising team.