The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced that some 13.4 million Syrians are suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity, in an indicator that reflects the depth of the country's ongoing humanitarian tragedy.

In a statement to reporters from Geneva, FAO's Acting Representative in Syria, Peru Tommaso Perry, pointed out that there is a lack of funding for agriculture in emergencies, which means that many rural families have not benefited from basic seasonal support, explaining that Syria is facing a suffocating food crisis affecting more than half of the population, amid UN warnings of the collapse of the agricultural sector, which has been exhausted by 14 years of conflict, frequent drought and a collapsed economy.

The agricultural sector and a turning point

The UN official pointed out that the Syrian agricultural sector is at a turning point" after many years of conflict, recurrent drought and economic difficulties.

Damaged irrigation systems, poor services, troubled markets and widespread contamination with explosives have all exacerbated the collapse of the sector, Perry said.

Safe access to farmland is essential, Perry said, warning that food conditions are extremely precarious, with one of the main difficulties being the contamination of arable land with explosives that prevent its use.

Victims between fields and pastures

In addition, the UN official revealed a shocking toll of incidents related to explosive objects, as 1299 incidents have been recorded since the end of 2024, causing 2325 victims, and they were especially concentrated in agricultural lands and grazing areas.

"Ploughing the land, grazing livestock or harvesting crops could put the lives of many Syrians living in the countryside at risk," Berry warned, describing the scale of the daily risks surrounding activities that were once the main source of livelihood for millions of families.

According to Perry, FAO is contributing to "identifying areas where demining operations can have the greatest impact on food production, livelihoods, safe returns, access to water, the resumption of market movements and strengthening the resilience of communities."

With Japanese support, FAO and UNMAS are leading a coordinated effort with the Government of Syria to demine contaminated areas and rehabilitate the agricultural sector.

Mines pose a threat to the lives of more than 14 million people across the country, according to UN estimates.

Lack of funding deprives rural households of seasonal support

The Acting FAO Representative pointed out that there is a serious funding gap in the emergency agricultural response, which means that "many rural households have not benefited from basic seasonal support", which poses an additional challenge for rural communities that rely on agriculture as their sole source of survival.

Through the Syria Emergency and Recovery Action Plan 2026-2028, FAO aims to reach 9.8 million people, and the plan needs $286 million in funding to achieve its goals, Perry said.

Perry reiterated FAO's commitment to "continue to support Syrian farmers, livestock breeders and rural communities, so that the agricultural sector can ensure food security, restore livelihoods, stimulate safe and dignified returns, and help Syria transition from emergency to sustainable recovery."