Damage to Gaza’s agricultural sector

Extensive damage to civil infrastructure throughout Gaza has exacerbated food insecurity

Gaza’s agricultural sector sustained over US$500 million in damage during the recent conflict: around twice the total under Operation Cast Lead according to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture. This is Gaza’s third such conflict in six years and by far the most destructive for its already beleaguered agricultural sector. Around 24,000 families of farmers, herders and fishermen suffered debilitating losses. Without urgent support, livelihoods will further erode as more animals die, fields lie barren and fishermen lack the means to pursue their livelihoods.

During the 51-day conflict, farmers were forced to abandon their crops and animals, and fishermen were prohibited access to the sea, paralyzing related economic activities. Open fields, greenhouses, gardens and orchards were severely damaged and contaminated with unexploded ordnance. Families who lost animals or fishing assets also lost their daily sources of income and nutrition: eggs, meat, dairy and fish. Many still cannot access or afford the basic inputs needed to resume production, such as fodder, seeds, fertilizer and water.

A sizable proportion of Gaza’s agricultural animals perished, including roughly 40 per cent of poultry and 20 per cent of total productive livestock. The entire agricultural value chain was affected – from farm and sea to market.

Preliminary analysis of satellite imagery from UNOSAT indicates that around 1,800 hectares of agricultural fields were razed or heavily damaged as a result of hostilities. In addition, using imagery acquired on 27 and 28 August 2014, UNOSAT assessed damage to greenhouses and identified a total of 657 destroyed, 214 severely damaged and 392 moderately damaged structures

Extensive destruction and damage to civil infrastructure throughout Gaza has exacerbated food insecurity due to the lack of electricity, which limits the storage capacity of fresh crops and food at markets. Restrictions on trade and access to natural resources, in addition to the blockade of Gaza, stifle the local economy and render agricultural livelihoods increasingly fragile and unsustainable. Around half of the agricultural land is inaccessible and fishing is limited to six nautical miles from shore.

The protection and promotion of resilient livelihoods must begin immediately to reverse the de-development of Gaza. A twin track approach to emergency and development has been adopted to accelerate the transition from post-war assistance to the restoration of sustainable livelihoods.

To enhance livelihood resilience for herders and farmers, FAO is distributing emergency inputs such as water tanks, animal fodder, seedlings and inputs to secure animal shelters before the winter begins. This support will focus on vulnerable families that had low resilience to external shocks prior to the conflict and also on rebuilding livelihoods to better withstand political, natural, environmental and economic threats in the future. FAO is seeking US$27.2 million to help 14,362 families of farmers, fishermen and herders minimize the deterioration of their productive assets and restore their livelihoods.

* This article was contributed by FAO