• About 98.5 per cent of cropland in the Gaza Strip is either damaged, inaccessible, or both, according to a new assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) through satellite imagery.

• This means that only 1.5 per cent of cropland in Gaza — 232 hectares — is currently available for cultivation, down from 4.6 per cent (688 hectares) as of April 2025, in a territory with over 2 million people.

• 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 is not accessible due to designated “no go” zones.

• The combination of this extremely limited cropland availability, the impact of a relentless conflict, severe restrictions on the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance, and widespread destruction of critical infrastructure — including irrigation systems, roads, equipment, storage facilities, and markets — has led to catastrophic food security conditions across Gaza.

• Addressing this crisis requires urgent safe and sustained humanitarian access, as well as immediate investments and support to restore local food production and basic livelihoods.

• The latest assessment follows the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) alert issued on July 29, which indicated that the worst-case scenario of famine is currently unfolding in the Gaza Strip.

• The latest data reveals that over one in three people (39 per cent) are going days without food. 

• More than 500,000 people — nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population — are experiencing famine-like conditions, while the rest face emergency levels of hunger.

United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT)

• The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) is part of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), with a mandate to provide UN funds, programmes and specialised agencies with satellite analysis, training and capacity development, at their request, as well as to support Member States with satellite imagery analysis over their respective territories and to provide training and capacity development in the use of geospatial information technologies, on the basis of voluntary contributions. 

• Satellite imagery analysis can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real-time. 

• The UNOSAT promotes evidence-based decision-making for peace, security, and resilience using geo-spatial information technologies.

• By leveraging advanced technology, UNOSAT contributes to informed decision-making and facilitates the delivery of aid in crisis situations.

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