A recent geospatial assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) reveals that less than 5% of Gaza’s cropland remains cultivable, intensifying the region’s looming famine crisis.
Over 80% of the Gaza Strip’s 15,053 hectares of cropland — 12,537 hectares — has been damaged, with 77.8% inaccessible to farmers, leaving only 688 hectares (4.6%) available for cultivation.
The situation is most severe in Rafah and northern governorates, where nearly all farmland is unusable.
The assessment highlights extensive damage to Gaza’s agricultural infrastructure, with 71.2% of greenhouses and 82.8% of agricultural wells destroyed as of April 2025.
Rafah saw a sharp increase in greenhouse damage, rising from 57.5% in December 2024 to 86.5% in April 2025.
“This level of destruction is not just a loss of infrastructure – it is a collapse of Gaza’s agrifood system and of lifelines,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, addding:
What once provided food, income, and stability for hundreds of thousands is now in ruins. With cropland, greenhouses, and wells destroyed, local food production has ground to a halt. Rebuilding will require massive investment – and a sustained commitment to restore both livelihoods and hope.
Beth Bechdol.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis warns that Gaza’s 2.1 million residents face a critical risk of famine after 19 months of conflict, displacement, and restricted humanitarian aid.
Between April 1 and May 10, 2025, 93% of the population — 1.95 million people — were in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse, with 244,000 in Phase 5 (Catastrophe), facing starvation.
Projections indicate 470,000 people could reach Phase 5 by September 2025.
FAO estimates agricultural damages and losses since 2023 exceed $2 billion, with reconstruction costs at $4.2 billion.
The agency urges immediate restoration of humanitarian access to avert further catastrophe.