NEW YORK (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said that the ongoing Israeli genocide against Gaza for the past year has destroyed more than two-thirds of the agricultural land in the region, “increasing the risk of famine among the population,” according to an assessment.
In a report prepared in collaboration with the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), released on Thursday, the organization indicated that as of September 1, the war had caused damage to 67.6% of agricultural land (more than 10,000 hectares), whereas the percentage was 57.3% in May and 42.6% in February.
The report noted that 71.2% of orchards and fruit trees were damaged, along with 67.1% of field crops especially in the Khan Yunis area and 58.5% of garden crops, based on satellite imagery.
The FAO report also stated that more than half of the water wells designated for agricultural use (1,188) and 577 hectares of agricultural greenhouses suffered severe damage, as images showed signs of heavy vehicles, bombings, or sites leveled to the ground.
The report recorded the death of about 95% of livestock, with 43% of sheep (fewer than 25,000 heads) and 37% of goats (three thousand heads) surviving, while most fishing boats in the port of Gaza city were severely damaged.
Beth Bechdol, the FAO’s Deputy Director-General, warned that “the extent of the damage has reached unprecedented levels. This raises serious questions about current and future production capacities, as food assistance alone cannot meet the daily needs of Gaza’s residents.”
In a press statement, she added, “The damage inflicted on agricultural land exacerbates the imminent risk of famine throughout the Gaza Strip.”
The organization confirms that the population of the Gaza Strip, which exceeds two million, is in urgent need of food, while strict restrictions continue to be imposed on the entry of aid into the besieged area.
