Food Insecurity in Syria: A Growing Humanitarian Crisis
By: Claire Boyle / Arab America Contributing Writer
Introduction:
The country of Syria is experiencing numerous humanitarian crises including the decade-long ongoing civil war, the huge influx of refugees also due to the conflict, displacement from homes, economic instability, and these have also been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic which continues throughout the nation. Did you know that food insecurity is yet another growing humanitarian crisis that is threatening the health, safety, and well-being of Syrians? A recently-published report from the World Food Programme (WFP) states due to the ongoing conflict from the Syrian Civil War, the siege of COVID-19 cases, and other factors mentioned above that food insecurity is already a huge humanitarian crisis in Syria and will continue if the war does not abate anytime soon.
So, some may be wondering “what is food insecurity,” and if that is you, then this is the right place to be. This article will address what is food insecurity, how is it affecting Syria, and what can you do to help provide aid for this growing humanitarian crisis.
What is Food Insecurity?
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines food insecurity as “when people lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life.” The important thing to remember about food insecurity is that it can come in many shapes, forms, and amounts. Depending on the circumstances, food insecurity can mean anything from not having access to healthy and nutritious foods as in the case of ‘food deserts’, “not having enough money and resources to buy food, skipping meals, and at its very worst, running out of food, going an entire day without eating, or not eating multiple days out of a year.” It is safe to assume that, unfortunately, Syria’s level of food insecurity is at the direst stage which makes it a huge humanitarian crisis because it affects everyone, men, women, and most tragically, children.
Syria and Food Insecurity:
So, how is food insecurity affecting Syria and how is the ongoing conflict making it worse? The World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that about “12.4 million Syrians are food insecure and 4.8 million of them receive life-saving food from the WFP each month.” This means that about 38% of Syrians are receiving WFP aid that are just the basic essentials, nothing fancy, but enough to get by, but these sources are also limited as the WFP serves numerous nations throughout the world that are dealing with the same issues surrounding food insecurity and hunger. Furthermore, it is thought that at least “60% of Syrians are food insecure and that number could increase drastically if urgent humanitarian action is not taken soon.”
One of the most pressing issues of food insecurity in Syria is that with increased pressures surrounding both the economy and conflict, families are now forgoing food in order to survive because they simply cannot afford even a basic meal. What are the ingredients that make up a basic meal? Typically, these include what is called ‘staple foods’ which are foods that are essential throughout the world and provide basic nutritional needs. Some examples of staple foods include “corn (maize), rice, wheat, potatoes, and cassava, but they typically consist of grains, tubers, rice, and beans.” So, in this case, most Syrian families nowadays cannot even afford these foods, and this is one of the reasons why the country is experiencing such dire circumstances regarding food insecurity.
How to Help and Provide Aid for the Humanitarian Crisis of Food Insecurity in Syria:
So, how can you help out with food insecurity issues in Syria? There are many charities, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and IGOs (intergovernmental organizations) that desperately need help to provide critical aid to the most vulnerable in Syria. Please see the list the below and you can visit their websites to provide funding and aid, and find out more information about the ongoing problem of food insecurity throughout Syria.
Organizations to Help:
United Nations World Food Programme (WFP): The WFP provides lifesaving aid to Syrians who are experiencing food insecurity and monetary support is key to their mission.
Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA): IRUSA again provides lifesaving aid like the WFP does except it goes beyond food resources.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF): UNICEF provides aid for children as well as mothers and it also goes beyond food. They even have a current appeal to help Syrian refugees here.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, food insecurity is being experienced by many Syrians and throughout the world including the United States as well. The United Nations is also working on preventing food insecurity throughout the world with its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are supposed to be reached by 2030, but it remains to be seen whether they will actually be accomplished. Syria continues to experience many humanitarian crises, and the fear is that with food insecurity it will already push the nation even more towards the brink of disaster if the conflict does not stop anytime soon. One can only hope that these numerous crises will abate at some point, but at least for now, there are many avenues to help those struggling with food insecurity in Syria.
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