The 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 across the affected sub-region 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 very 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 is also 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 are competing for scarce land and water resources and income opportunities, while costs for housing, food and other commodities continue to 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, to help affected populations and the systems which support them – better absorb, adapt and recover from current and future shocks from the crisis.

Such an approach, combining emergency and development efforts, is crucial in the context of food and livelihood security. The strategic plan to support Syria and neighbouring countries was presented in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon during the week of 11 May 2014.