Resilient Livelihoods for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in Areas Affected by the Syria Crisis

Resilient Livelihoods for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in Areas Affected by the Syria Crisis

Year of publication 2014

Pages 12p.

Product type Document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is closely monitoring the impact of the Syria crisis on food security, nutrition, agriculture and livelihoods in Syria and neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Assessments carried out across the affected subregion indicate that threats to food security and livelihoods are severe and growing steadily. In addition to rendering over half of Syrians poor and nearly a third food insecure, the crisis is eroding the ver y foundations of food and livelihood security in what was once a middle-income country, with a relatively high employment rate (92 percent) and growing agriculture sector. Syria’s food chain is disintegrating – from production to markets – and entire livelihood systems are collapsing. The conflict also is severely affecting economic, social and human development in neighbouring countries. With most of Syria’s 2.6 million refugees living outside of camps, host communities face intense competition for resources such as land, water and income opportunities, while costs for housing, food and other commodities soar. The humanitarian appeals for Syria and neighbouring countries are the largest in history: USD 4.4 billion in 2013 and USD 6.5 billion in 2014. As the crisis shows no sign of abating, a resilience-based approach is proving ever more crucial to meet immediate needs while helping affected populations – and the systems which support them – better absorb, adapt and recover from curr ent and future shocks emanating from the crisis. Such an approach, combining emergency and development efforts, is indispensable in the context of food and livelihood security. Behind each family pushed into poverty and hunger, systems are collapsing which need to be protected, restored and strengthened. A holistic approach is needed not only to deliver crisisaffected populations from aid dependency, but also to prevent hunger and poverty from increasing and becoming endemic. FAO’s “Resilient Livelihoods for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in Areas Affected by the Syria Crisis” is a five-year Subregional Strategy and Action Plan, budgeted at USD 280 million – just over a tenth of the value of agricultural losses suffered in Syria by 2012. The Strategy is a dynamic document developed over the course of agricultural programming missions to the subregion in late 2013 and early 2014, which build on rapid agricultural livelihood and food security impact assessments and initia l response plans prepared during the first quarter of 2013. With the aim to protect, restore and strengthen livelihoods and the agro-ecosystems on which livelihoods depend, the Strategy tailors short-, medium- and longer-term actions to address specific needs of the main groups affected by the crisis, including Syrian internally displaced persons (IDPs) and affected populations, refugees, returnees, host communities and national and local authorities. Activities focus on seven priority areas, which can be broadly categorized as: (i) control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs); (ii) control of plant pests and diseases; (iii) food security and natural resource information systems, disaster risk management and policy development; (iv) rural and peri-urban income generation and employment; (v) agricultural production; (vi) natural resource management; and (vii) food safety and nutrition. The Strategy aligns with national government priorities and existing regional frameworks for add ressing the Syria crisis and calls for close partnership with affected communities, national institutions, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-state actors and private-sector organizations. Agriculture cannot be an afterthought. Affected populations in the subregion need effective responses to the challenges threatening their food security and livelihoods. A resilience-based approach delivers this, while better preserving the integrity of lives, livelihoods, natural resources and critical develop ment gains achieved over the past decades.

Language English

Also available in:

Arabic

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Document

Resilient Livelihoods for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in Areas Affected by the Syria Crisis
Subregional Strategy and Action Plan
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The Strategy is a dynamic document developed over the course of agricultural programming missions to the sub region in late 2013 and early 2014, which build on rapid agricultural livelihood and food security impact assessments and initial response plans prepared during the first quarter of 2013.With the aim to protect, restore and strengthen livelihoods and the agro-ecosystems on which livelihoods depend, the Strategy tailors short-, medium- and longer-term actions to address specific needs of the main groups affected by the crisis, including Syrian internally displaced persons (IDPs) and affected populations, refugees, returnees, host communities and national and local authorities. The Strategy aligns with national government priorities and existing regional frameworks for addressing the Syria crisis and calls for close partnership with affected communities, national institutions, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-state actors and private-sector organizations. The humanitarian situat ion in Syria is of grave concern, with domestic, regional and growing international consequences. As the conflict enters its fourth year, insecurity, generalized violence and specific persecution continue to force the people of Syria to seek safety and protection elsewhere, both inside the country and in the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In December 2013, the United Nations (UN) estimated that more than 12 million Syrians were in need of humanitarian assistan ce, including 6.5 million who are internally displaced (which includes at least 235 000 Palestinian refugees); 2.2 million who are registered as refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey; hundreds of thousands who may not have registered or became refugees “sur place”; and Lebanese, Palestinian and other refugees displaced from Syria.
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Resilient Livelihoods for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security in Areas of Jordan Affected by the Syria Crisis
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The Syria crisis, which initially emerged in early 2011 and worsened dramatically in 2012 and 2013, has compounded the already difficult economic situation in the majority of Syria’s neighbouring countries. The growing influxes of refugees and returnees, the dramatic disruption in trade within the region and the heightened uncertainty have all affected Jordan. Over 550 000 Syrian refugees are in Jordan, equal to 8 percent of the country’s total population. The largest influx of Syrian refugees w as between October 2012 and May 2013. Seventy-seven percent of the refugees live outside of camps, mostly in rented accommodation and with free access to education and healthcare. The largest populations of Syrian refugees are found in Mafraq, Amman and Irbid Governorates, with 33, 25 and 23 percent of the total population, respectively; with 9 percent in Zarqa, 3 percent in Balqa and 2 percent in each of Jarash and Ajloun.
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Myanmar Community Livelihood Assistance Project : Boosting Food Production Capacity to Address Food Security and Resilient Livelihoods in Crisis-Affected Regions/States of Myanmar
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The Project aims to improve access to emergency assistance, basic services, and livelihood opportunities for vulnerable populations in conflict-affected regions of Myanmar. FAO will lead Component 2, focused on rehabilitating the agricultural sector through technical, material, and financial support to farmers. The Project emphasizes resilience-building against multiple shocks, especially for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and crisis-affected communities. Activities include providing agricultural inputs, cash transfers, and training in climate-smart agriculture to enhance food security and nutrition. The Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP) ensures effective communication, particularly with vulnerable groups, while incorporating feedback and grievance mechanisms.