The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a dire warning over the catastrophic state of agriculture in the besieged Gaza Strip.

In a statement released Tuesday, Abdulhakim Elwaer, FAO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, described the situation as "near-total destruction" of Gaza’s agricultural sector—a lifeline for the local population amid famine, displacement, and war.

Elwaer confirmed that FAO has been completely blocked from delivering even basic agricultural inputs—such as seeds or fertilizer—into Gaza, citing Israel’s ongoing siege and restrictions on humanitarian access. He stressed that the agency stands ready to act immediately once access is granted.

The FAO’s March assessment paints a grim picture: only 4.6% of Gaza’s agricultural land remains usable, with vast swaths of farmland flattened by Israeli airstrikes, bulldozers, and shelling, part of what many observers describe as a systematic attempt to erase Gaza’s food sovereignty.

Despite the destruction, Palestinian farmers continue to resist by planting crops in any available space—between tents, atop rubble, and in makeshift gardens—to sustain their families and communities.

While large-scale aid remains blocked, the FAO recently managed to provide limited support to 200 farmers in Rafah and Khan Younis, southern Gaza’s hardest-hit areas. These efforts aim to make the most of the remaining cultivable land and support local food production, which is vital to prevent total collapse.

Elwaer emphasized the urgent need for alternative aid mechanisms and international pressure to lift the blockade. “Supporting Gaza’s farmers is not just about agriculture—it’s about defending a people’s right to live, eat, and survive,” he said.

The UN and humanitarian groups continue to warn that famine is imminent in Gaza, where Israel’s military assault—now in its 21st month—has displaced over two million people, destroyed civilian infrastructure, and created what experts describe as a man-made humanitarian catastrophe. (ILKHA)