The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations “FAO” said that over 72,000 farming and herding families in the occupied West Bank, which represents nearly two-thirds of all agricultural households, are in urgent need of emergency aid. A study released by the organization on Wednesday noted that roughly 90 percent of farming families in the West Bank have recently lost their income due to a dramatic drop in crop and livestock production and sales.
The report said that around 115,000 families rely mainly on agriculture for their livelihoods out of approximately 700,000 families living in the West Bank. The organization added: “Farming families urgently need cash and material support to cope with the impact of widespread settler violence, the deepening economic crisis, and near-total income loss,” emphasizing that agriculture remains one of the most effective means for families to secure food and income.
The study found that close to 100,000 farming households in the West Bank have recently suffered at least one severe shock, including conflict and violence, soaring living costs, and job losses.It stressed the need to ensure humanitarian aid reaches families without hindrance or delay. The report emphasized that adequate funding is critical “to prevent households from spiraling into a deeper crisis.”
