A new geospatial assessment from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shows less than five percent of the Gaza Strip’s cropland is capable of being cultivated.
The joint assessment from the FAO and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) described the situation as “alarming” on Monday.
The assessment found that more than 80 percent of Gaza’s total cropland has been damaged, while 77.8 percent of that land is now inaccessible to farmers.
Only 688 hectares (1,700 acres), or 4.6 percent of cropland, remains available for cultivation.
The destruction has extended to Gaza’s greenhouses and water sources, with 71.2 percent of greenhouses and 82.8 percent of agricultural wells also damaged.
The FAO further warned that the destruction of agricultural infrastructure amid Israel’s war on Gaza is “further deteriorating food production capacity and exacerbating the risk of famine”.
The UN agency said Israeli attacks on land, wells and greenhouses were exacerbating the already critical risk of famine in Gaza.
“This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system and of lifelines,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO’s deputy director-general.
“What once provided food, income, and stability for hundreds of thousands is now in ruins. With cropland, greenhouses, and wells destroyed, local food production has ground to a halt. Rebuilding will require massive investment – and a sustained commitment to restore both livelihoods and hope.”
An analysis by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) earlier this month warned that Gaza’s entire population was facing a critical risk of famine after 19 months of war, mass displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid.
While Israeli regime announced last week that it would allow “minimal” aid deliveries into Gaza, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have warned that the trickle of supplies is failing to reach starving population of the blockaded Palestinian region.
Meanwhile, Israeli air attacks and artillery attacks continue to kill dozens of Palestinians every day in Gaza.
On Monday, Israeli forces bombed a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, sparking a fire and killing at least three dozen Palestinians, including several children.
Gaza health officials said over 50 people were killed in Israeli attacks across the enclave since dawn, according to health officials.
