Israeli bombardments and activities in the Gaza Strip are massively restricting the work of farmers and fishermen, according to UN figures.
The Israeli military banned fishing off the coast following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, the UN’s emergency relief agency OCHA reported on Thursday.
In addition, Israel has extended a security zone on the Gaza side of the border fence from 300 to 1,000 metres in some places.
Until now, thousands of farmers had been able to cultivate fields in the zone, but they were now forbidden from entering.
Electricity supplies which have been restricted by Israel were also affecting the cooling of agricultural goods and the irrigation of fields in the Palestinian coastal enclave, OCHA added.
Due to the lack of animal feed and damage from bombs, farmers have reported large losses of livestock, especially poultry.
The OCHA report said this exacerbates the already tough supply situation in the densely populated coastal enclave due to the halt in food deliveries from the Israeli side.
“It has disrupted food security by affecting refrigeration, crop irrigation, and crop incubation devices, consequently harming various livelihoods, including poultry, cattle, fish, and other commodities,” OCHA said.
Efforts to open the Rafah border crossing to Egypt to supply the more than two million residents of the Gaza Strip are in full swing.
Trucks with 3,000 tonnes of aid are waiting there, OCHA said.
The trucks have food, drinking water, medicine and other relief supplies on board.
Egypt has promised to open the crossing but it is unclear when.
