The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is providing essential support to livestock-keeping households in Gaza by delivering 2,452 veterinary kits aimed at improving animal health and sustaining herding livelihoods amid the ongoing conflict. This initiative comes as local food production and agrifood value chains have collapsed due to nearly ten months of hostilities, leading to severe food insecurity affecting 96% of the population, with 2.15 million people at risk of famine.
This shipment, which follows the successful delivery of 500 tonnes of fodder to Gaza, marks the first entry of veterinary kits into the Strip since the escalation of hostilities began. FAO is the first organization to pilot these kits from the West Bank into Gaza. The kits contain crucial inputs for animal health, including multivitamins, disinfectants, salt blocks, and iodine wound spray.
The conflict has taken a significant toll on Gaza's livestock, with approximately 70% of meat and dairy-producing animals either slaughtered, consumed, or lost. Bilal, a livestock keeper from Rafah and an FAO beneficiary, highlighted the dire need for these supplies, noting that local availability of such inputs is nonexistent. He emphasized the importance of fodder, medicines, and vaccines for the survival of their animals.
Azzam Saleh, Head of Programme for FAO in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, underscored the importance of providing these veterinary materials to support the local community and their animals. "It is crucial to focus our efforts on keeping livestock alive and healthy," he said, stressing that this would ensure continued access to protein and milk, especially for malnourished children.
FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, Abdulhakim Elwaer, called for immediate investment to protect the remaining livestock and expedite the recovery of Gaza's damaged agriculture and food system infrastructure. He highlighted the need for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to address the acute food insecurity and malnutrition in the region.
Supported by the governments of Belgium, Italy, and Norway, FAO is collaborating with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and local NGOs to distribute these veterinary kits. Elwaer emphasized that providing vaccines not only ensures animal health but also strengthens the one health approach, reducing the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans.
Under the 2024 UN Flash Appeal for the occupied Palestinian territory, FAO is seeking around $40 million, with $29 million allocated for Gaza, to meet the needs of over 70,000 individuals. This funding will support the distribution of animal fodder and health inputs, restocking lost livestock, providing critical inputs to farmers, and offering emergency assistance to those impacted by the ongoing conflict. Additionally, a new shipment of 500 tonnes of fodder is being prepared, with three trucks having already entered Gaza, reaching 217 beneficiaries.
While food aid is essential, it is insufficient to meet the caloric and nutritional needs of Gaza's population. FAO's support aims to help farmers and herders resume local food production, which is crucial for providing nutritious food such as milk, eggs, meat, and vegetables, particularly for children in need.
