The preliminary estimates about the total losses for the agricultural sector in Gaza have been estimated at 550 million dollars, of which 350 million correspond to direct losses and $ 200 million to indirect losses.

In a joint press conference held at the fishing port of Gaza, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and members of the agricultural sector, as well as the fishermen's union, it was announced that "the direct damages to the agricultural sub-sectors has been estimated at 200.4 million dollars, affecting more than half of the agricultural area, which is estimated at 140,000 hectares."

Dr. Nabil Abu Shamala, director general of policy and planning at the Ministry of Agriculture said that "the damage to and loss of livestock production amounted to 70.8 million; that to soil and water amounts to 68.2 million dollars, and damage to fisheries reaches 10 million dollars; the estimated losses of crops stored amount to 16 million dollars."

He also noted that "water wells and water tanks have been affected, as well as the lines for water supply, in addition to the destruction of agricultural land located along the eastern border of the area, where ​​about 34,500 hectares were bombed and destroyed completely."He added that "the value of indirect losses resulting from the loss of opportunities and disruption of the labour force in the agricultural sector if of 200 million dollars, and the most affected provinces are Khan Younis, with 79 million dollars, the province of Gaza, with 60 million dollars, followed by the northern Gaza Strip, with 48.5 million."He pointed out that "one of the most important results of this barbaric war is an acute shortage of locally produced agricultural crops and high prices, which threatens the Gaza Strip's food security, which according to estimates, may already be affecting about half of the area's population."

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/