Less than 5% of Gaza’s farmland remains cultivable due to widespread war damage and severe access restrictions, dramatically raising famine risks, according to a new United Nations assessment. The joint report by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the UN Satellite Centre warns of a total collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system, calling it a loss of lifelines for the population.
Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the FAO, said the destruction is more than just infrastructure loss—it’s the eradication of Gaza’s food foundation. Once home to rich citrus, olive, and date cultivation, the region now faces starvation for nearly 500,000 people, worsened by an 11-week Israeli blockade on food imports.
The U.N. report reveals that just 688 hectares—or 4.6%—of Gaza’s cropland can be farmed. Over 80% of farmland has been damaged, and nearly 78% is inaccessible due to military restrictions and evacuation orders. Additionally, more than 80% of wells and almost 75% of greenhouses have been destroyed.
The crisis is most severe in the southern Rafah area and Gaza’s north, where cropland access is nearly nonexistent.
Source: Swifteradio.com
