The ongoing conflict in Gaza has devastated its agricultural sector, with more than 90% of cattle dead and 70% of crop-growing land destroyed or damaged, according to a UN analysis of satellite imagery, the Guardian reports.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has devastated its agricultural sector, with more than 90% of cattle dead and 70% of crop-growing land destroyed or damaged, according to a UN analysis of satellite imagery. Over half of the sheep and goat herds have been wiped out, and three-quarters of Gaza’s orchards have suffered extensive destruction. Rein Paulsen of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization described the situation as a "decimation" of local food production, warning of an escalating risk of famine.
Satellite images reveal widespread damage from shelling, razing, and military activity, including destruction of wells, irrigation systems, and other agricultural infrastructure. Before the war, Gaza’s farms produced a third of its food needs, but farmers like Faraj Jarudat and Ismael al-Rahal recount the near-total annihilation of their livestock and crops. Jarudat lost all his animals and his farm to shelling and bulldozing, while Rahal struggles to keep a few surviving sheep alive amid soaring food prices.
The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, has resulted in severe humanitarian consequences. Aid officials describe the situation as "apocalyptic," with more than two-thirds of Gaza's buildings destroyed and food availability at an all-time low. Despite international pressure to increase aid, supplies have dwindled, and farmers and fishers face life-threatening risks to sustain production.
Israeli authorities deny the risk of famine, accusing some NGOs of providing biased data. However, the destruction has left displaced farmers like Rahal bereft of homes, animals, and livelihoods. Rahal laments the loss of his once self-sufficient farm, now reduced to rubble, reflecting the broader humanitarian and ecological toll of the conflict.
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