New satellite data from FAO and UNOSAT reveals severe damage to Gaza's agricultural sector, with more than two-thirds of its cropland destroyed in the ongoing massacre. The devastation worsens food shortages and threatens long-term food security. Nearly 95 percent of cattle have died, and poultry losses are catastrophic, with only 1 percent of chickens surviving.

The ongoing violence in Gaza has also devastated the region’s agricultural sector, with over 67.6 percent of its cropland—approximately 10,183 hectares—damaged as of September 2024, according to a joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT). This marks a sharp increase from earlier this year, further deepening the region's humanitarian crisis.

Damaged greenhouses in Khan Younis, Gaza

"The extent of the damages on agricultural land in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels," FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stated, raising concerns about the potential for famine.

Damage extends beyond cropland. Around 95 percent of cattle have died, and poultry losses are at catastrophic levels, with only 1 percent of chickens remaining alive. Greenhouse damage in Rafah has surged by 183 percent since April.

Efforts to deliver aid have faced significant challenges due to restricted access and logistical issues, but FAO has distributed fodder and veterinary kits to thousands of livestock holders. Agricultural aid remains urgently needed to prevent total sector collapse.