The Voice News:Less than five percent of Gaza’s total agricultural land is currently cultivable, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The data was revealed in a new geospatial survey conducted by the UN Satellite Centre. On Monday (May 26), the FAO described the situation as “extremely alarming,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
The FAO stated that ongoing Israeli attacks have devastated Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure, further weakening local food production capacity and increasing the risk of famine.
The joint survey revealed that more than 80% of Gaza’s agricultural land has been damaged. Farmers are unable to access 77.8% of the land. Currently, only 688 hectares (approximately 1,700 acres), or 4.6% of the total agricultural land, is usable for cultivation.
This destruction has also affected greenhouses and water sources in Gaza. About 71.2% of greenhouses and 82.8% of wells used for farming have been damaged.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol said, “What once provided food, income, and stability to thousands of people has now turned into rubble. The destruction of farmland, greenhouses, and wells has nearly halted local food production. Rebuilding will require massive investment and long-term commitment.”
This report comes at a time when the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned earlier this month that 19 months of war, mass displacement, and strict controls on humanitarian aid have placed the entire population of Gaza at extreme risk of famine.
Although Israel announced last week that it would allow a “limited” amount of aid into Gaza, humanitarian organizations have warned that the little assistance is not reaching the starving population.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continue to kill dozens of Palestinians daily. On Monday, at least 36 Palestinians, including several children, were killed when Israeli forces bombed a school being used as a shelter.