Ankara: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced that more than 72,000 farming and herding families in the occupied West Bank, representing nearly two-thirds of all farming families, are in urgent need of emergency assistance.
According to Qatar News Agency, a study published by the FAO on Wednesday revealed that approximately 90 percent of farming families in the West Bank have recently lost their income due to a sharp decline in crop and livestock production and sales.
The study indicated that an estimated 115,000 families rely primarily on agriculture for their livelihoods, out of a total of approximately 700,000 families living in the West Bank. The FAO added, "Farming families urgently need cash and in-kind assistance to mitigate the effects of widespread settler violence, the worsening economic crisis, and the near-total loss of income."
The organization emphasized that agriculture remains one of the most effective ways for families to obtain food and income. It noted that nearly 100,000 families, agricultural workers in the West Bank, have recently suffered at least one major shock, including conflict, violence, rising living costs, and job losses, highlighting the urgent need for unimpeded and timely humanitarian access to families.
They stressed that adequate funding is essential "to prevent families from slipping into an even deeper crisis."