FAO Warns of Unprecedented Humanitarian, Agricultural Collapse in Gaza

Gaza city: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned of an unprecedented humanitarian and agricultural catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. In its annual report, the organization confirmed that less than 5% of agricultural land remains cultivable, after more than 80% of cultivated land was destroyed by the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the report stated that approximately 70% of agricultural greenhouses were completely destroyed, while the majority of wells were damaged, making access to water nearly impossible and leading to a near-total collapse of the local production system within the Strip. The report emphasized that Gaza has become entirely dependent on humanitarian aid to meet its food needs, warning that continued restrictions on the entry of agricultural supplies and fuel through the crossings will lead to widespread famine in the coming months. The organization added that 90% of Gaza's population is unable to access sufficient food, noting that vegetable and grain production has fallen to less than half of its level two years ago, while the fishing sector has suffered extensive destruction and ongoing restrictions that have prevented its normal operation. The FAO has classified the Gaza Strip as one of the four worst food crises in the world for 2024-2025, alongside Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan, calling for an urgent, multi-sectoral response encompassing food security, water, health, and psychosocial support to avert a complete humanitarian collapse in the Strip.