UN official calls for urgent action to rebuild Gaza’s food supply chain

He said that between 78% and 91% of agricultural land, farms, and greenhouses have been damaged, severely reducing local food production, which was once a cornerstone of food security in the Strip.

In an interview with Al Jazeera during the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Fotiou noted that approximately 37% of the damaged land could be rehabilitated, presenting a vital opportunity to urgently begin rebuilding the food system and restoring supply chain sustainability inside Gaza.

He emphasized that ensuring the continued flow of humanitarian aid, food, and fuel into the Strip is a top priority. He called for the full reopening of border crossings and the creation of suitable conditions to guarantee regular deliveries, allowing humanitarian organizations to operate without disruption.

Fotiou explained that current aid reaching Gaza does not meet actual needs and fails to match agreed quantities and types. Assistance has largely been limited to carbohydrates and processed goods, while protein-rich foods such as meat and fish remain banned, worsening the malnutrition crisis and endangering public health, particularly among children and the sick.

The UN, through the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is working with international partners to develop a plan to rehabilitate the food system post-war. However, these efforts face a major funding shortfall.

FAO has issued an international appeal for $75 million to support its 2025 recovery plan, but less than 10% of the required funds have been secured, hindering programs aimed at restoring local food production and supporting farmers’ livelihoods.

Fotiou concluded by stressing that bridging this funding gap is essential to launching a new phase of agricultural recovery in Gaza. Doubling available resources would help accelerate relief and reconstruction projects and ensure long-term sustainability of the food system in one of the world’s most crisis-affected regions.