FAO: the Gaza conflict seriously damages agriculture and affects people's livelihoods

Chinanews.com, Aug. 15-according to a report on the United Nations website, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations warned on August 14 that the conflict in the Gaza Strip has not only brought direct losses to local agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery production, but will also have a long-term impact on the livelihood of the people of Gaza. FAO says restoring agriculture in the Gaza Strip will require considerable external assistance in the long run.

In a press release, FAO pointed out that since the outbreak of the new Gaza conflict, 17000 hectares of food crops have been destroyed, about 50 per cent of broilers and eggs have been lost, and 64000 small ruminants need feed and water. fishery production has also fallen to only 9.3 per cent of the same period last year. In addition, agricultural infrastructure, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, farms, stockpiled feed and fishing boats, has also been severely damaged.

At present, food prices in the Gaza Strip have risen sharply from before the conflict. For example, the price of eggs has increased by 40 per cent, the price of potatoes by 42 per cent and the price of tomatoes by 179 per cent.

With the stagnation of local agricultural production and a decline in the amount of food imported, 1.8 million people in the Gaza Strip depend almost entirely on food aid provided by humanitarian agencies. The population with food assistance provided by the United Nations Relief and works Agency for the near East is 1.1 million, while another 700000 depend on external food supplies distributed by the Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs and its partners.

According to FAO, although most of Gaza's food is imported, about 29000 people there still depend on agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries for their livelihood, and during the recent short ceasefire, many farmers and herdsmen were able to return to their fields and pastures for farming and grazing. Once a lasting cease-fire is reached between Israel and Palestine, the FAO, with funding from Canada, will provide feed for 55000 small ruminants there. In addition, FAO has preset 4000 1 cubic metre water tanks to help Gaza herders provide drinking water for livestock.