Gaza: geo-spatial data shows the enormous damage caused to cultivated land, while in Lebanon there are now 1.2 million displaced people

ROMA – L’ last evaluation based on satellite dataFood and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) shows escalating damage to farmland and agricultural infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, further exacerbating the humanitarian and food crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict.

Damage in numbers. As of September 1, 2024, 67.6% of Gaza’s agricultural land – or 10,183 hectares (ha) – has been damaged. This is an increase from 57.3% (8,660 hectares) in May and 42.6% (6,694 hectares) in February 2024. More specifically, 71.2% of orchards and other trees, 67.1 % of field crops and 58.5% of vegetables were damaged.

A system that provides vital information. “This satellite analysis provides vital information to support humanitarian efforts as the conflict continues to impact Gaza’s agricultural sector,” said UNITAR Executive Director Nikhil Seth. UNOSAT is a specialized program within UNITAR, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

Concerns about the food future. “The extent of damage to agricultural land in the Gaza Strip has reached unprecedented levels. This raises serious concerns about the potential of food production now and in the future, because food aid alone cannot meet the daily needs of the people of Gaza. This damage to agricultural land exacerbates the imminent risk of famine across the Gaza Strip,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol.

The urgent need for food: the risk of famine. More than 2 million Gazans still urgently need food and livelihood assistance, as humanitarian access remains limited. The latest assessment, covering the period from 7 October 2023 to 1 September 2024, reinforces concerns about the risk of famine.

Since the start of the conflict, FAO and UNOSAT have provided regular updates on agricultural assessment, combining field and satellite data to evaluate various agricultural indicators, such as the extent of cultivated areas.

The details of the assessment.

– Khan Younis has the largest area of ​​damaged agricultural land (2,589 hectares, or 61.5%), while northern Gaza has the highest percentage of damage by governorate (78.2%).

– The port of Gaza City was severely damaged, with most of the fishing boats destroyed.

– Rafah recorded a sharp increase (183%) in damaged greenhouses, going from 44 hectares in April to 124.7 hectares in September 2024, equivalent to 27.7% of total greenhouses.

– Almost 95% (about 15,000) of the cattle died and almost all the calves were slaughtered.

– Around 43% of sheep (less than 25,000 heads) and 37% of goats (around 3,000 heads) remain alive.

– Dramatic losses are reported in the poultry sector, with only 1% (around 34,000) of birds alive. Commercial poultry production has largely ceased, with most operations now limited to domestic production for home consumption.

FAO’s emergency response

The conflict has taken away access to critical sources of protein and nutritious food and continues to devastate people’s livelihoods. until 29 September, FAO distributed fodder to over 4,400 livestock farmers in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al-Balah and veterinary kits to around 2,400 herding families. The UN agency – reads a note – “ready to provide further input to farmers and shepherds in Gaza once the conditions of access, security and mobility have been restored”.

COOPI’s other humanitarian alarm from Lebanon. Meanwhile, other humanitarian alarms are arriving from the other war front in the Middle East, Lebanon. “Over 1500 attacks, more than 1000 victims and it is estimated that there are more than 1.2 million displaced people, that is, people who don’t know where to stay, forced to abandon their homes, their jobs, their lives in the space of a few hours. The situation in Lebanon – we read in a note from the NGO COOP – in just two weeks it has become dramatic and humanitarian needs are growing day by day.” The alarm was raised by the staff of the NGO present in Lebanon since 2013, which intervened in the field to help the population.

The collapse for families was immediate. The situation in Lebanon quickly came to a head. “Entire families – he explains from Beirut the regional coordinator for the Middle East of COOPI, Matteo Crosetti – they have lost everything and are forced to take refuge in schools and makeshift reception centres. Those who can are fleeing, seeking refuge in the north of the country or in Syria, or are seeking public shelters to escape the bombings.”