The Palestinian agricultural lands were hit by frost last week; Palestine was last hit by a frost front 20 years ago. For 10 days, most West Bank districts were hit by this front, which caused many loses in most districts as the temperature dropped to -3°c at night followed by the formulation of a snow layer on agricultural lands the next morning. The southern, middle, and northern areas of the Jordan valley are considered the most areas affected by this front, followed by southern areas of Hebron and Bethlehem, and then the middle and north areas of the West Bank in Tulkarem, and Qalqiliya.

The results found by the field team of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees UAWC, indicated that greenhouses were fully damaged, as in some cases losses reached 95% from the overall cultivated lands. The losses were accumulated in the Jordan valley area, as losses were not only plants of greenhouses, but also plants of open- cultivation, in some areas losses reached more than 85%. In addition to the losses in the northern Jordan valley areas, as losses were estimated by thousands of dunums of agricultural lands, cultivated with squash, corn, pepper, tomatoes, and eggplants.

Nablus District
In the area of east Nablus, farmers lost almost 20,000 dunums cultivated with citrus trees, field crops, and greenhouses. Losses were estimated by more then 85% from the total cultivated areas.

Hebron and Bethlehem Districts
Four days of frost resulted in the damage of thousands of dunums in different areas of Hebron, and initial statistics indicate that there are about 2,000 dunums cultivated with vegetables were damaged by the frost.

Losses reach the livestock sector as well
Not only did the frost front damaged the cultivated area but it also caused losses in the livestock sector; as in the last week many newborn animals died because of the cold and very low temperature. Losses were mainly in Nablus and Hebron Districts, the process of assessing damages is now taking place in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, so as to design emergency intervention and help farmers affected by this disaster.

After speaking with some farmers from Qalqiliya, the total area affected there was 3,000 dunums cultivated with Potato and Tomato. Farmers appealed to the Ministry of Agriculture, and local and international organizations to provide them with necessary aid and help them overcome this disaster.

The Jordan Valley was Announced as a Disastrous Area
As the losses and damages documented in the Jordan Valley were more than 95%, official authorities announced this area as a disastrous area, in great need of emergency aid to support thousands of families who suffered from great losses in their agricultural production.