Only 1.5% of Gaza's Farmland Is Accessible and Undamaged

Trucks carrying medical supplies arrive in Gaza in early August.

UN data published on Wednesday underscores the tiny amount of cultivable land that remains in the Gaza Strip, contributing to the famine-like conditions now being endured by more than two million people there.

A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) reveals that just 8.6 per cent of cropland in Gaza is still accessible, while only 1.5 per cent is both accessible and undamaged as of 28 July.

More than 86 per cent of cropland is damaged, while 12.4 per cent is undamaged but out of reach, as fighting between Israeli forces and militants from Hamas and other armed groups continues.

This report comes as Israel’s offensive inside Gaza continues to restrict aid distribution – and starvation-related deaths continue to rise.

The local Ministry of Health reported five new malnutrition-related deaths in the past 24 hours on Wednesday, bringing the total to almost 200 starvation-related deaths—half of whom are children.

According to the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), hospitals are overstretched, with many patients reduced to lying on the floor or in the streets.

This mass suffering is due to a lack of beds, medical supplies, and equipment. Yet emergency medical teams were again denied entry into Gaza on Tuesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also reported that more than 100 health professionals, including surgeons and other specialised medical staff, have been barred from entering the enclave since March.

Meanwhile, the limited availability of fuel continues to restrict lifesaving operations. The UN has collected around 300,000 litres from the Kerem Shalom crossing in the past two days, but this is far less than what is needed.

Due to the lack of fuel, UN health partners report that more than 100 premature babies are in imminent danger.

Additionally, the Israeli military on Wednesday renewed two displacement orders spanning five neighbourhoods in the Gaza and Khan Younis governorates.

Shelter materials have not been allowed to enter Gaza since 2 March, when Israel withdrew from the ceasefire deal, and the few materials available on the local market are extremely expensive and limited in quantity, making them inaccessible to most families.

On Tuesday, Israeli authorities reportedly allowed the entry of a limited number of trucks carrying commercial goods, including rice, sugar, and vegetable oil—but the UN is still seeking more clarity on the situation.

Sugar remains one of the most expensive items on the market, with a two-ounce bag costing some $170. Eggs, poultry, and meat have completely disappeared from marketplaces, forcing families to rely on pulses and bread to survive.

At Wednesday’s daily briefing in New York, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stressed that “the worsening market situation underscores the urgent need for the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods at scale—and consistently.”