ReliefWeb

Impacts of the Syria Crisis on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security in Neighboring Countries

FAO develops response plans to address immediate and medium-term needs of vulnerable groups in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey

“While affecting all sectors in neigbouring countries, the impact of Syria crisis on food and agriculture is particularly important, as these sectors represent the main source of income for a significant proportion of the population, particularly vulnerable communities and the poorest segments of the society living in rural areas” reports the “Agricultural Livelihoods and Food Security Impact Assessment and Response Plan for the Syria Crisis in the Neighbouring Countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey” published today by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The report has been developed following a rapid, multi-disciplinary assessment mission that FAO fielded in February 2013. The mission had a specific focus on the impact of the Syria crisis on agricultural livelihoods, food and nutrition security and its influence on markets, trade flows and trading routes, cross-border agricultural input supply flows and prices in the neighboring countries.

Vulnerable communities of border areas, including communities hosting refugees, are among the most affected groups by the Syrian civil unrest, which has raised serious concern over the state of food security in the neighboring countries of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Middle East Region as a whole, the assessment findings confirm.

Particular attention needs to be given to the food availability and accessibility which are put under threat by the reduced local food productive capacities, the increased demand for food (as a result of the growing influx of refugees and returnees from Syria), falling incomes of host communities; the increased fiscal burden to maintain food subsidies and the considerable fall in imports of food products from Syria.

“The increased stress on resources, water, food and other services – coupled with a decline in income and economic activity – are adding a tremendous strain on neighbouring countries at the national, local and household levels” said Nasredin Elamin, Regional Senior Policy Officer and member of the mission.

PRIORITY NEEDS OF VULNERABLE GROUPS

The report highlights the urgency to address the deteriorating condition of food traded across official and unofficial border crossings, the increasing malnutrition among farming families of host communities and the needs of rural host communities to recover their food production and income generating functions, particularly those in the border areas of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and peri-urban areas of Egypt. Specific attention needs to be given to the threat of transboundary animal and plant diseases and pests.

As a result of disruption of traditional trade routes, uncontrolled livestock movement and smuggling of agricultural commodities across borders with Syria have increased. The absence of adequate animal health, sanitary and phytosanitary controls are compounding the risk of animal and crop diseases and pests in the region.

The report also confirms that coping strategies of both host communities and refugees are seriously eroded as time passes. To cope with the growing pressure of the crisis on affected vulnerable communities in the neigbouring countries, including the increasing influxes of refugees, there is an urgent need to increase income generating opportunities for host communities. This is necessary in order for these communities to be able to feed themselves and strengthen their potential to assist the refugees.

“Creating income-generating opportunities for refugees will help them meet their basic needs for food and other necessities and will minimize pressure on local communities. All of these efforts should be designed and implemented judiciously, creating a ‘win-win’ situation for both host communities and refugees without jeopardizing decent employment” concludes Cyril Ferrand, member of the mission and Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Coordinator in West Bank and Gaza Strip.

For more info visit English version of the report , where the Arabic version of the report will be soon available.

For info

Ms. Raffaella Rucci
Communications
Desk: +2 -02- 33316000 ext. 2519
E-mail: RNE-communications@fao.org