Israeli genocide causes unprecedented devastation to Gaza’s agricultural sector

According to a statement from the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture Israel has inflicted “unprecedented devastation” on Gaza. In the almost three years since the genocide began Israel have repeatedly carried out damage to Palestinian infrastructure.

Gaza: agricultural losses estimated in the billions

Damage exceeded 85 percent across most agricultural sub-sectors, resulting in a near-total collapse of the agricultural production system. Losses were estimated to be worth around £2.6 billion.

More than 87 percent of agricultural land used for growing crops was damaged, so local food production severely declined, Around 8,700 agricultural water wells were also rendered inoperable. The agricultural irrigation system was hard hit too, with approximately 8,700 wells completely inoperable. Around 3,820 agricultural reservoirs were also damaged, and more than 1370 km of water transmission networks destroyed.

Overall losses in  Gaza’s livestock sector reached more than 90 percent. A total of 5450 cattle, sheep, and goat farms were damaged, and 70,000 died. While about 2,300 poultry farms were damaged and nearly 2.8 million birds died during this time. 28,400 beehives were also damaged.

Gaza’s fishing sector was also severely affected by the genocide. The Strip’s only fish hatchery was destroyed, while almost 1,675 fishing vessels and fishing assets, seven aquaculture farms, and around 450 dual-use ponds were damaged.

‘Catastrophic damage’

The genocide also caused “catastrophic damage” to agricultural infrastructure. More than 90 agricultural nurseries, nearly 20 hatcheries, and almost 135 agricultural cold storage facilities were destroyed. Alongside this was the widespread destruction of government agricultural facilities, experimental stations, water treatment facilities, and veterinary laboratories.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture, this unprecedented devastation has had severe consequences. The agricultural production system is almost at a complete standstill. There has been a sharp deterioration in food security across the Gaza Strip. And, at the same time, thousands of families have also lost livestock. These factors have led to a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians in Gaza depending on humanitarian aid.

The Ministry is calling for urgent and immediate action to be taken, and is calling on donor institutions, UN agencies, and the international community to show their support. The recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of the agricultural sector need to be supported, to enable farmers and fishermen to resume production.

Israel have purposely attacked any means that support Palestinian life. That includes water supplies, energy supplies, and the ability for Palestinians to feed themselves. If — or when — the international community continues to ignore, the longer Israel’s genocide on Gaza will continue.

Featured image via the Canary

By Charlie Jaay

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