Israel’s genocide has left Gaza with just 5% of its farm land remaining

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has released its annual report highlighting global food crises. However, it particularly shows the deteriorating humanitarian and agricultural situation in the Gaza Strip.

UN issues severe warning over Gaza

The report indicated that agricultural infrastructure in the Strip is in severe decline, with less than 5% of arable land remaining. Israeli military operations have damaged more than 80% of cultivated areas, and 77.8% are now inaccessible to farmers.

It explained that more than 70% of agricultural greenhouses in Gaza have been destroyed, and most irrigation wells have been damaged, leading to a severe shortage of agricultural water.

The FAO emphasised that what is happening in Gaza represents a “near-total collapse of the agricultural and production system,” warning that if the current situation continues, the Strip’s residents will become almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid for their food.

This warning comes as the organisation continues to call for facilitating the entry of agricultural and food aid into Gaza and rehabilitating damaged land and infrastructure to ensure a minimum level of food security.

The FAO has classified the Gaza Strip as one of the worst food crisis areas in the world for 2024-2025, alongside Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Desperate shortages

Regarding the fishing sector, the report indicated significant damage, with severe restrictions imposed on fishermen’s access to the sea, exacerbating the shortage of animal protein in the population’s diet.

The organization also explained that more than 90% of Gaza’s population is unable to access sufficient food, and that local production of vegetables and grains has fallen to less than half of its level two years ago.

The FAO recommended the urgent provision of agricultural support, including seeds, animal feed, and well repairs, to prevent further collapse in local production. It also emphasized that the continued restrictions on the entry of supplies and fuel through the crossings are exacerbating the crisis.

The organization concluded its report by emphasizing that approximately 2.2 million people in Gaza are in dire need of urgent food and humanitarian assistance, warning that continued conflict and supply disruptions could lead to “widespread famine in the coming months” unless aid is allowed in immediately.

Featured image via the Canary