FAO / GAZA FODDER DISTRIBUTION IMPROVES LIVELIHOODS

Nearly 2,500 herders in the Gaza Strip received animal feed from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). About 1 800 metric tonnes of animal feed have been distributed since February 2025. The distribution, still ongoing, is crucial to keep the livestock alive. FAO

• Video Length: 00:01:20
• Production Date: 19 December 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic
• Corporate Name: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO
• Subject Topical: FOOD SUPPLY
• Geographic Subject: GAZA
• MAMS Id: 3518877
• Parent Id: 3518877
• Alternate Title: unifeed251219d

Description

STORY: FAO / GAZA FODDER DISTRIBUTION IMPROVES LIVELIHOODS
TRT: 01:20
SOURCE: FAO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT FAO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS
DATELINE: 15 DECEMBER 2025, DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP

Shotlist

15 DECEMBER 2025, DEIR AL-BALAH, GAZA STRIP

1. Various shots, herder Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif collecting fodder distributed by FAO and feeding goats.
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif, herder: “This fodder makes the animals produce milk again. Before receiving the fodder, there was no milk production. Nothing at all. The young animals died.”
3. Med shot, Abu Sharif’s goat.
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif, herder: “I want them [my goats] to make cheese and milk as before. And I want to eat meat and sell meat, like before. I’m planning to expand the [livestock] project and increase the area of my animal farm and support the animals. Livestock production is in my blood.”
5. Tracking shot, Abu Sharif with his goats.

20 JUNE 2024, KHAN YUNIS, GAZA

6. Pan left, destroyed area in Khan Yunis, Gaza
7. Wide shot, destroyed area in Khan Yunis, Gaza

Storyline

Nearly 2 500 herders in the Gaza Strip received animal feed from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). About 1 800 metric tonnes of animal feed have been distributed since February 2025. The distribution, still ongoing, is crucial to keep the livestock alive.

Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif, a livestock producer from a long line of herders in Deir Al-Balah, in the Gaza Strip, said his goats started to produce milk again after eating fodder.

SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif, herder: “This fodder makes the animals produce milk again. Before receiving the fodder, there was no milk production. Nothing at all. The young animals died.”

The father of six children, Abu Sharif said he wants his livelihood to improve after the ceasefire and hopes for additional support to someday reach pre-conflict levels of milk and cheese. He plans to expand production.
SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Tha’ir Yahya Eid Abu Sharif, herder: “I want them [my goats] to make cheese and milk as before. And I want to eat meat and sell meat, like before. I’m planning to expand the [livestock] project and increase the area of my animal farm and support the animals. Livestock production is in my blood.”

An estimated 14 300 small ruminants have survived the conflict, according to a November 2025 FAO assessment. This corresponds to about one-third of goats and 20 percent of sheep. These animals are among the Strip’s last-remaining local sources of fresh milk and meat. Their continued survival is essential to combating malnutrition, especially for children, following two years of conflict.

According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Gaza published today (19 December 2025), at least 1.6 million people - or 77 per cent of the population – are still facing high levels of acute food insecurity in the Gaza Strip, including over 100,000 children and 37,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women projected to suffer acute malnutrition through April next year.

Four governorates (North Gaza, Gaza Governorate, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis) are currently classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) through April 2026, with Gaza Governorate down from the previous Famine classification, says the new IPC report. IPC Phase 4 indicates severe food insecurity marked by large food consumption gaps, high levels of acute malnutrition, and an elevated risk of mortality.

Since the ceasefire, more than 730,000 people have been displaced, many living in makeshift shelters and are heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance. In addition, limited access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, health care, and the widespread destruction of cropland, livestock, fishing activities, roads and other critical infrastructure pose tremendous challenges for people and for ongoing relief efforts.

Despite progress has been made on humanitarian and commercial access, the population continues to struggle with massive infrastructure destruction and collapsed livelihoods and local food production, given restrictions on humanitarian operations.