UN Report Reveals Less Than 5% of Gaza Cropland Remains Usable Amid Ongoing Conflict
Less than 5% of Gaza's farmland remains arable, highlighting severe agricultural devastation, UN reports reveal.
Gaza's agricultural sector is facing devastating setbacks, as a recent assessment indicates that less than five percent of the region's farmland remains suitable for cultivation. This dire situation, detailed in a collaborative report released on Monday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Center, paints a grim picture for food security and livelihoods within the embattled enclave.
The report highlights that as of April 2025, a staggering 80.8 percent of Gaza’s cropland has sustained damage. Out of the total area, only 4.6 percent—equivalent to just 688 hectares—remains usable. The majority of agricultural land, particularly in Rafah and almost all areas in northern Gaza, is now inaccessible due to the ongoing conflict and related destruction.
Agricultural infrastructure in Gaza has also been severely impacted. The assessment found that over 71 percent of greenhouses and nearly 83 percent of agricultural wells have been damaged. These losses further cripple the region’s capacity to produce food, leaving residents increasingly vulnerable to hunger and malnutrition.
“This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza's agrifood system and of lifelines,” emphasized Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general of the FAO. The collapse of agricultural activities threatens the core of Gaza’s economy, which, prior to the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, contributed around ten percent to the strip’s gross domestic product and supported the livelihoods of over 560,000 people who relied on crop cultivation, livestock rearing, and fishing.
Financial assessments by FAO estimate that over $2 billion in agricultural losses have already occurred since the onset of the latest conflict. Projections for recovery and reconstruction are equally daunting, with anticipated costs reaching approximately $4.2 billion.
This comprehensive damage raises urgent concerns about the risk of famine and the ability of humanitarian organizations to support the population. As conditions worsen, there is mounting pressure for increased international assistance and immediate efforts to restore access to what little remains of Gaza’s vital agricultural sector.
