By Eileen Schuhmann | Presbyterian Hunger Program
Part of Improvement and Development for Communities Centers’ work includes rebuilding and sustaining greenhouses in Gaza. Photo courtesy of IDCO.
The Presbyterian Hunger Program has been supporting its partner Improvement and Development for Communities Center (IDCO) in Gaza since 2014 in IDCO’s efforts to improve the food security situation for Gazans.
Back in 2014, food insecurity levels in the Gaza Strip had already exceeded 57%, with more than 36% of Gazans being severely food insecure. The food insecurity numbers had continued trending upward since the 2007 Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip, which placed limits on the movement of people and goods, resulting in high unemployment levels and high food prices.
2014 also marked a year when conflict between Israel and Hamas had peaked. 96,000 homes in Gaza were damaged or destroyed in the 50-day war. 4,448 acres of agricultural fields had been razed or heavily damaged A total of 657 greenhouses were destroyed, 214 were severely damaged, and 392 were moderately damaged.
It is within this context that PHP began to partner with IDCO to revive agricultural production on damaged lands, rehabilitate and rebuild greenhouses, and restart greenhouse food production in the Gaza Strip.
Read the full Presbyterian News Service article
Urge Congress to Call for a Ceasefire and support humanitarian aid and access to Gaza!
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