Agricultural land in Gaza renders unusable beyond 95%, posing a substantial threat of famine for the entire populace, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.
In the embattled Gaza Strip, the agricultural sector is on the brink of collapse. A new analysis reveals that less than 1.5% of the region's cropland remains available for cultivation, with over 98% either damaged or inaccessible due to ongoing conflict and imposed restrictions on farming areas.
Since December 2024, the destruction of greenhouses has escalated dramatically, with Rafah seeing an increase to 86.5% by April 2025. Over 71.2% of all greenhouses in Gaza have been damaged, and the agricultural sector has suffered over USD 2 billion in damages and losses since the conflict began, with recovery needs exceeding USD 4.2 billion.
The agricultural land is primarily inaccessible due to widespread damage and restricted safe access. Over 80% of Gaza's farmland has been damaged, with only 688 hectares, or 4.6%, still cultivable. Moreover, about 12.4% of cropland, though undamaged, lies in zones deemed too dangerous for farmers to access due to ongoing hostilities or security measures.
The impacts on Gaza's food crisis and potential famine are severe. The collapse of local agricultural production has drastically reduced food availability in an already densely populated territory of over two million people. More than 500,000 people are suffering from famine-like conditions, and nearly a quarter of the population is estimated to face famine-level hunger.
Starvation-related deaths have already been reported, including many children, and malnutrition is rising amid overwhelmed healthcare facilities. The region's food production system has nearly collapsed due to the destruction of croplands, greenhouses, and water supplies.
Humanitarian organizations emphasize that without urgent, safe access to farmland and humanitarian support—including reconstruction of agricultural systems—Gaza’s food crisis and risk of full-scale famine will continue to deepen. Restoration of farm access and infrastructure, along with sustained aid, are critical to stabilizing this dire situation.
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- The devastation of Gaza's agricultural sector, including greenhouses, croplands, and water supplies, has left environmental-science experts deeply concerned, as it directly contributes to the region's climate-change vulnerability.
- Politicians worldwide are urged to prioritize the Gaza crisis in general-news discussions, recognizing that the war-and-conflicts in the region have resulted in extensive agricultural damage, exacerbating food scarcity and threatening the lives of over two million people.
- As the agricultural sector struggles to recover due to ongoing conflict and war, experts in environmental-science foresee long-term consequences on Gaza's climate and overall ecosystem. This underscores the critical need for sustainable politics and international aid to revitalize the agricultural sector and ensure food security for the region's residents.
