From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 13, 2024
More than half of cropland in Gaza is damaged, UN says
More than half of Gaza’s agricultural land has been degraded by conflict, satellite images analyzed by the United Nations shows.
The data reveals a rise in the destruction of orchards, field crops and vegetables in the Palestinian enclave.
Using satellite imagery taken between May 2017 and 2024, United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) found that 57% of Gaza’s permanent crop fields and arable lands essential for food security had shown a significant decline in density and health.
“In May 2024, crop health and density across the Gaza Strip showed a marked decline compared to the average of the previous seven seasons,” UNOSAT says. “This deterioration is attributed to conflict-related activities, including razing, heavy vehicle movement, bombing, and shelling.”
As well as damage to crop fields and orchards, greenhouses across the Gaza Strip had also sustained significant damage, UNOSAT says.
The Gaza Strip has an estimated 151 square kilometers of agricultural land, which makes up about 41% of the coastal enclave’s territory, according to data from UNOSAT.
