FAO boosts food security efforts in countries affected by Syria crisis

Three new projects aim at better data analysis, combating animal diseases

17 March 2015, Rome/Amman – FAO is scaling up its support to Jordan and other countries in the

region affected by the humanitarian crisis in Syria that has entered its fifth year.

In the presence of Jordan’s agricultural minister, Akef Alzoubi, FAO Director-General José Graziano da

Silva initiated three projects to improve food security and nutrition by making better data available to

decision-makers and preventing the spread of animal diseases across borders.

“Thanks to a $1.6 million grant from USAID’s Food For Peace (FFP) program, FAO will provide

technical assistance to government institutions and other partners in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq to

establish an inclusive food security information network that will enhance the understanding and analysis

of food security issues in the region,” da Silva said during a visit to Jordan.

According to the UN, around 3.9 million people have fled Syria, the vast majority becoming refugees in

neighbouring countries.

Better data for strategic action

By improving analysis and data sharing between UN agencies, NGOs and governments on food security,

the new information network will allow better-informed interventions for vulnerable populations and

ensure that the limited resources are applied where they are needed most.

“Resources for responding to the Syria crisis are limited in relation to the needs, so it’s crucial for UN

agencies and partners to strategically target their assistance, taking into account the severity, scale and

underlying causes of vulnerability,” said FAO’s Representative in Jordan Nasredin Hag Elamin.

“Having timely food security information is essential to guide this effort and will help relief and

resilience agencies make sound decisions on the types of actions needed to support the affected Syrian

population and neighbouring countries that host refugees,” he added.

Complementing this larger effort is a half-million-dollar project funded through FAO’s Technical

Cooperation Program (TCP) to help national institutions in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq better respond to

food security concerns and strengthen communities’ resilience to shocks. The FAO Director-General and

the government of Jordan signed an agreement that aims to improve availability and sharing of livelihood

data and increase the capacities of partner countries for early warning about threats to food security.

Syria, Lebanon and Iraq were facing significant challenges in the fight against hunger and malnutrition

even prior to the crisis in Syria. The ongoing conflict has raised additional challenges for these

neighboring countries to reach important Millennium Development Goals related to nutrition, food

security, access to water and sanitation, as well as child and maternal mortality.

Early warning to contain animal diseases

The collapse of public veterinary services in Syria is posing additional threats as an increased number of

livestock have been crossing into neighboring countries and potentially spreading animal diseases. To

contain the spread of animal diseases across borders FAO and the government of Jordan have agreed to

support local governments and veterinary laboratories in increasing early detection and disease control,

while also assessing the socio-economic impact of these diseases on pastoralist communities across

Jordan.

“Livestock is the primary livelihood for Jordan’s many pastoralist communities and a source of nutrition

to the country as a whole. Being able to intervene early to protect herds from diseases is therefore a key

part of protecting food security in this time of crisis,” said Hag Elamin.

Supporting hard-hit communities in the north

Jordanian households and Syrian refugees living in Northern Jordan have been affected the most by the

Syria crisis in terms of food security and nutrition.

Through a recently approved $0.5 million grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF),

FAO, in collaboration with the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture, will launch a pilot project supporting

the most vulnerable in these communities with the introduction of micro-gardens and in-depth nutrition

training.

The goal is to improve the communities’ intake of micro-nutrients by increasing access to safe and

nutritious foods and promoting nutrition-friendly cooking.