Landmines, hunger threaten Syria’s recovery as 13 million face food insecurity

Landmines, hunger threaten Syria’s recovery as 13 million face food insecurity Through its 2026-2028 Emergency and Recovery Plan, the FAO aims to assist 9.8 million people across Syria and is seeking $286 million in funding. Wednesday 24/06/2026 A food vendor prepares corn in Aleppo, Syria. DAMASCUS More than half of Syria’s population is facing acute food insecurity as years of conflict, climate shocks and economic decline continue to devastate the country’s agricultural sector, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, Pirro-Tomaso Perri, the FAO’s acting representative in Syria, said the country’s agriculture sector stood at a critical juncture after more than a decade of war, recurrent droughts and mounting economic hardship. “Syria’s agricultural sector is at a pivotal moment after 14 years of conflict, recurrent droughts, economic difficulties, damaged irrigation systems, weakened services, disrupted markets and widespread contamination by explosive remnants of war,” Perri said. He stressed that safe access to farmland had become essential at a time when food conditions remained extremely fragile across the country. According to FAO estimates, around 13.4 million Syrians are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, underscoring the scale of the humanitarian challenge facing the country. One of the most significant obstacles to agricultural recovery remains the contamination of farmland and grazing areas with landmines and unexploded ordnance left behind by years of fighting. Perri said that since the end of 2024, 1,299 incidents involving explosive ordnance had been recorded across Syria, causing 2,325 casualties. For many Syrians living in rural areas, activities as routine as ploughing fields, tending livestock or harvesting crops can carry deadly risks. “For many rural Syrians, cultivating land, grazing animals and harvesting crops can be life-threatening,” he said. The FAO is working to identify areas where demining operations can deliver the greatest benefits for food production, rural livelihoods, safe returns of displaced people, water access and the revival of local markets. The conflict that erupted in Syria in 2011 killed more than half a million people, displaced millions and left large swathes of the country contaminated with explosive hazards. According to the United Nations, more than 14 million people remain exposed to risks from mines and unexploded ordnance. With Japanese funding, the FAO and the United Nations Mine Action Service are working alongside Syrian authorities to clear contaminated land and help revive agricultural production. However, Perri warned that funding for emergency agricultural assistance remains insufficient, leaving many rural families without critical seasonal support needed to restore farming activities. Through its 2026-2028 Emergency and Recovery Plan, the FAO aims to assist 9.8 million people across Syria and is seeking $286 million in funding. “We remain committed to supporting Syrian farmers, livestock breeders and rural communities so that agriculture can strengthen food security, restore livelihoods, encourage safe and dignified returns and help Syria move from emergency conditions toward sustainable recovery,” Perri said. Suggested By Editor Food insecurity spectre hovers over Syria as it faces worst drought in decades Suggested By Editor Food insecurity spectre hovers over Syria as it faces worst drought in decades
2026-06-24 13:23:04