A joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), using high-resolution satellite data, shows limited rehabilitation of greenhouse infrastructure in parts of the Gaza Strip. However, most of the greenhouse infrastructure – more than 81 percent – remains damaged and out of production, severely limiting farmers’ capacity to grow food for a population in desperate need.
The assessment found that approximately 24 hectares of damaged greenhouses were rehabilitated between October 2025 and April 2026, with most repairs concentrated in Khan Yunis Governorate. In addition, 22 hectares of new greenhouse structures were identified in April 2026, primarily in Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah Governorates.
These developments coincide with encouraging signs of recovery in the livestock sector, according to FAO’s new analysis. Between November 2025 and May 2026, Gaza’s small ruminant population increased for the first time since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. Sheep numbers rose by 33 percent and goat numbers by 8 percent, improving prospects for milk and dairy production among vulnerable households and contributing to the gradual restoration of local food availability. The livestock recovery has been driven in part by increased emergency support following the ceasefire.
Damage remains severe
While the assessment identified some rehabilitation activity and new greenhouse construction, the overall level of damage remains extensive: 1 094 hectares of greenhouse area – more than 81 percent of the total greenhouse area in the Strip (1 094 ha of 1 325 ha) – remain damaged, up slightly from 80 percent in October 2025. The most severe damage is concentrated in the northern governorates and in Rafah, while rehabilitation efforts have largely been limited to areas where farmers have regained access to their land and mobilize available resources.
The broader agricultural landscape remains heavily affected. Approximately 87 percent of Gaza’s cropland remains damaged, while agricultural infrastructure, irrigation systems, storage facilities and farm assets have suffered extensive losses. According to the Gaza Strip Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment released in April 2026, the agrifood system has incurred $1.44 billion in damage and $1.46 billion in losses.
“Farmers in Gaza are eager to put every available plot back into production – they just need access to inputs and to their land,” said FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol. “The assessment shows that some farmers have begun repairing greenhouses and restoring production where conditions allow. But these remain isolated efforts against a backdrop of widespread destruction. With the planting season underway, the window is narrow. Emergency agricultural assistance and commercial imports of seeds, fertilizers, and equipment must be allowed into Gaza fully and without delay.”
Recovery continues to face significant constraints
Despite farmers’ efforts to restore production, recovery remains severely constrained. In addition to widespread damage to cropland and agricultural infrastructure, the revival of local food production is hampered by restrictions on land and sea access, including the westward expansion of the so-called “Yellow Line” separating the ceasefire zone from the military-controlled area. Recovery is further impeded by significant restrictions on the delivery of emergency agricultural assistance and on the import of essential agricultural inputs.
As a result, farmers face acute shortages of seeds, fertilizers, irrigation equipment and other production materials, while livestock keepers continue to struggle to access feed, veterinary supplies and animal health services. The limited quantities of inputs available in Gaza remain scarce and are often sold at prices beyond the reach of many agricultural households.
FAO’s continued support
FAO is supporting agricultural recovery through a combination of conditional cash assistance, livestock support and technical guidance. FAO’s conditional cash support for the 2026 planting season is currently reaching 1 500 small farmers in the Gaza Strip, enabling each to cultivate at least 1 dunum (0.1 ha) of land. Through this support, FAO projects that the farmers will produce enough fresh vegetables to meet the recommended annual vegetable intake for more than 100 000 people, based on the per-person intake recommended by FAO and the World Health Organization. FAO is scaling up the programme to reach an additional 280 farming households.
In parallel, FAO is now distributing nearly 600 tonnes of animal feed per month – five times the pre-ceasefire average. Since the conflict began, FAO has delivered more than 6 000 tonnes of animal concentrate feed and barley to over 5 000 livestock-keeping households, along with veterinary kits, conditional cash assistance and technical support. These interventions have helped livestock keepers preserve and begin rebuilding their herds, while increasing dairy and meat production.
Sustained investment in agricultural recovery – combined with unimpeded access for farmers and agricultural inputs – is essential to rebuilding Gaza’s agrifood system and to reducing long-term dependence on humanitarian assistance.
