Three projects launched to improve food security, nutrition in regions affected by Syrian crisis

AMMAN — Jordan and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will implement three projects to improve food security and nutrition in regions affected by the Syrian crisis.

Under three agreements Agriculture Minister Akef Zu’bi and FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva signed on Monday, the projects were launched to improve food security and nutrition by making better data available to decision-makers, and preventing the spread of animal diseases across borders.

During the signing ceremony, Zu’bi said the Syrian crisis took a heavy toll on the agriculture sector, underscoring that the Iraqi crisis and the instability there has also affected the national economy and the agriculture sector.

“We have discussed with FAO the current projects being implemented, and the prospect for implementing new projects in the near future to improve and support the agriculture sector,” the minister added.

For his part, da Silva noted that FAO recently established an office in Jordan to serve as a regional hub to coordinate projects in areas hardest-hit by the Syrian crisis.

“Thanks to a $1.6 million grant from USAID’s Food For Peace (FFP) programme, 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,” he said.

Under the regional project, analysis and data sharing will be improved between UN agencies, NGOs and governments on food security as 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, according to FAO.

“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,” FAO Representative in Jordan Nasredin Hag Elamin said.

The second $512,000 project, funded by FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme, will help national institutions in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq better respond to food security concerns and strengthen communities’ resilience, according to the agency.

Under the third $450,000 project, an early warning system will be established to contain animal diseases following the collapse of public veterinary services in Syria, which is posing a threat as an increasing number of livestock have been crossing into neighbouring countries and potentially spreading animal diseases.

As part of the project, FAO and the ministry will support local veterinary laboratories in increasing early detection and disease control to contain the spread of animal diseases across borders.

“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,” Hag Elamin noted.