ROME, January, 29 2024 (WAFA) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said that 75% of the fields in the Gaza Strip that were previously used to grow crops and olive groves were damaged or destroyed due to the Israeli aggression.

FAO said in its assessment that more than two-thirds of agricultural wells are no longer operating, leading to a shortage of irrigation water, while livestock losses have reached 96%, milk production has almost stopped, and only 1% of poultry are still alive, while the fishing sector is on the verge of collapse, exacerbating food insecurity.

It added that the ceasefire in Gaza provides a crucial opportunity to address the catastrophic food crisis, by delivering emergency aid and starting early recovery efforts, as more than two million people need urgent assistance due to the collapse of agricultural production.

For his part, the Director of the World Food Program in Palestine, Antoine Renard, said that the program is doing everything necessary to reach the displaced people in Gaza who are returning to their homes, adding that the World Food Program was able to operate 13 bakeries in the southern Gaza Strip, prepare hot meals, and deliver ready-to-eat meals to families in shelters.

Y.S