The ceasefire is the first step in delivering emergency relief and rebuilding local food production in the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million people urgently need assistance due to the collapse of agricultural output, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
“The ceasefire provides a critical opportunity to address the catastrophic food crisis in Gaza by enabling emergency aid delivery and initiating early recovery efforts. But this is just the beginning of a long journey to recover from the devastation. We will need sustained peace and access to meet the immense needs and ensure no one in Gaza is left behind,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol.
Bechdol said FAO is committed to ensuring long-term food security. In the meantime, immediate recovery efforts will prioritize rebuilding agrifood infrastructure, such as greenhouses, wells and solar systems, and scaling up the delivery of critical agricultural inputs to restore local food production.
“These complementary actions to strengthen resilience represent a bridge between short-term activities and longer-term development interventions to help communities rebuild and recover from crises, restore hope, and uphold the Right to Food,” Bechdol said.
The 15-month conflict has led to severe food insecurity for the entire population of the Gaza Strip, with communities on the brink of starvation.
The latest geospatial assessment carried out by FAO and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) between October and December 2024 reveals that the extent of the damage to Gaza’s agricultural land has reached unprecedented levels.
According to the assessment, 75 percent of fields once used to grow crops, as well as olive tree orchards, have been damaged or destroyed. Over two-thirds of agricultural wells (1,531 in total) are no longer functional, crippling irrigation. Livestock losses are at 96 percent, milk production has nearly halted, and only 1 percent of poultry remains alive. The fishing sector is also on the brink of collapse, further worsening food insecurity.
“Agriculture must be at the heart of emergency and recovery efforts,” Bechdol said. “Immediate action must combine emergency relief – food, water, and medical aid – but at the same time, restore local food production. Supporting farmers, herders and fishers now ensures fresh, nutritious food tomorrow,” Bechdol said.
Before the start of the conflict, agriculture accounted for approximately 10 percent of Gaza’s economy, with more than 560,000 people relying entirely or partially on cropping, herding, or fishing for their livelihoods. Gaza’s agriculture and fisheries exports amounted to $67.3 million in 2022, primarily fresh crops such as strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, sweet peppers and fresh fish.
According to FAO, rebuilding Gaza’s agricultural sector will be extremely expensive and will take years, if not decades.
In the immediate future, FAO is seeking $74.5 million to assist 154,100 farmers, herders, and fisher men and women with emergency agricultural inputs and technical support, assuming continued stability provided by the ceasefire and improved access and delivery conditions. Investing in agriculture will restore dignity, ensure nutritious food, and lay the foundation for a resilient, self-reliant agrifood system in Gaza.
Lifting the ban on private imports is also crucial for scaling up humanitarian efforts, reactivating local food production, and ensuring a diversified food supply to complement humanitarian aid. The resumption of commercial imports at scale is indispensable to allow rehabilitation efforts to begin.
FAO’s emergency response
To date, FAO has distributed fodder to approximately 4,800 livestock holders from all governorates of the Gaza Strip and veterinary kits to about 2,400 herder families. On 23 January, two trucks carrying a total of 30 tonnes of barley fodder were loaded in Egypt and en route to enter Gaza. A remaining 70 tonnes of barley are prepositioned in Egypt, while around 2,200 tonnes of fodder concentrate are set to enter Gaza via Israel.
FAO is also procuring greenhouse plastic sheets, vaccines, energy blocks, and plastic sheds for animals. These supplies are critical to restore food production, protect animals and restore livelihoods.
In preparation for a smooth transition from emergency to rehabilitation, early recovery and reconstruction, FAO is also prepared to reactivate the field implementation of projects put on hold due to the conflict. This will inject around $20 million into the local economy to support the rehabilitation efforts of farmers, livestock herders and fisher men and women.
Source :FAO
Picture credit : Arena
