Highlights
13.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, with the crisis now in its sixth year.
6.5 million people are displaced internally, and 4.8 million people are registered refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
8.7 million people are food insecure – half of the people remaining in Syria.
In 2015, FAO reached nearly 1.5 million people inside Syria with agricultural assistance.
FAO’s appeal for Syria in 2016 remains significantly underfunded: USD 86.5 million needed under the Humanitarian Response Plan – 6% funded.
CHALLENGES FACING AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
OVERVIEW
The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate, with an estimated 13.5 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance. A deep economic recession, fluctuating national currency, soaring food and fuel prices, disrupted markets and food insecurity have contributed to Syrians’ extreme vulnerability across the country. More than 11 million people – more than half of Syria’s population – have fled their homes, including 6.5 million who are internally displaced and 4.8 million who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Agriculture-based livelihoods face severe constraints across the value chain – from production to market. Major constraints include: restricted access to land due to violence; internal population displacement; reduced availability and increased cost of farming inputs (seeds, fertilizers, animal feed, veterinary supplies, etc.); damage to farming equipment and infrastructure (including irrigation,storage and seed processing facilities), and limited veterinary supplies and services.
