Latest news with #FAO
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Wheat becomes battleground as Syria's worst drought in 60 years threatens 16 million
DAMASCUS, June 28 — Rival Syrian and Kurdish producers are scrambling for shrinking wheat harvests as the worst drought in decades follows a devastating war, pushing more than 16 million people toward food insecurity. 'The country has not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years,' said Haya Abu Assaf, assistant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Syria. Syria's water levels have seen 'a very significant drop compared to previous years, which is very worrying', Abu Assaf told AFP, as a relatively short winter rainy season and decreased rainfall take their toll. 'A gap of between 2.5 to 2.7 million tonnes in the wheat crop is expected, meaning that the wheat quantity will not be sufficient to meet local needs,' Abu Assaf said, putting 'around 16.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Syria this year'. Before the civil war erupted in 2011, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat, producing an average of 4.1 million tonnes annually. Nearly 14 years of conflict have since crippled production and devastated the economy. The FAO estimates that harsh weather has impacted nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-growing land. 'Around 75 per cent of the cultivated areas' have been affected, as well as 'natural pastures for livestock production', said Abu Assaf. Imports, competition To bridge the wheat gap, imports would be essential in a country where around 90 per cent of the population lives in poverty. Before his ouster in an Islamist-led offensive in December, Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad used to rely on ally Russia for wheat. In April, new authorities reported the first wheat shipment since his removal arrived in Latakia port, with more Russian shipments following. Iraq also donated more than 220,000 tonnes of wheat to Syria. During the war, Damascus competed with the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast to buy wheat from farmers across fertile lands. Last year, Assad's government priced wheat at US$350 (RM1,480) per tonne, and the Kurds at US$310. After Assad's ouster, Damascus and the Kurds agreed in March to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the new Syrian state, with negotiations ongoing on implementation. Damascus set wheat prices this month at between US$290 and US$320 per tonne, depending on the quality, plus a US$130 bonus. The Kurdish-led administration offered US$420 per tonne including a US$70 bonus. 'Poverty and hunger' Damascus' agriculture ministry expects a harvest of 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes in government-controlled areas this year. Hassan Othman, director of the Syrian Grain Establishment, acknowledged Syria was not self-sufficient, in comments on state television. But he said authorities were working 'to ensure food security by importing wheat from abroad and milling it in our mills'. In northeast Syria's Amuda, farmer Jamshid Hassu, 65, inspected the tiny wheat grains from his fields, which cover around 200 hectares (around 500 acres). Despite heavy irrigation efforts to offset scarce rainfall, he said, production has halved. The FAO's Abu Assaf said indicators showed that 'about 95 per cent of rain-fed wheat has been damaged and affected', while irrigated wheat yields were down 30 to 40 per cent. Hassu, who has been farming for four decades, said he had to pump water from depths of more than 160 metres (525 feet) to sustain his crops as groundwater levels plunge. Agriculture remains a vital income source in rural Syria, but without urgent support, farmers face ruin. 'Without support, we will not be able to continue,' Hassu warned. 'People will suffer from poverty and hunger.' — AFP
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Wheat turns battleground as Syria's worst drought in 60 years threatens 16 million
DAMASCUS, June 28 — Rival Syrian and Kurdish producers are scrambling for shrinking wheat harvests as the worst drought in decades follows a devastating war, pushing more than 16 million people toward food insecurity. 'The country has not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years,' said Haya Abu Assaf, assistant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Syria. Syria's water levels have seen 'a very significant drop compared to previous years, which is very worrying', Abu Assaf told AFP, as a relatively short winter rainy season and decreased rainfall take their toll. 'A gap of between 2.5 to 2.7 million tonnes in the wheat crop is expected, meaning that the wheat quantity will not be sufficient to meet local needs,' Abu Assaf said, putting 'around 16.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Syria this year'. Before the civil war erupted in 2011, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat, producing an average of 4.1 million tonnes annually. Nearly 14 years of conflict have since crippled production and devastated the economy. The FAO estimates that harsh weather has impacted nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-growing land. 'Around 75 per cent of the cultivated areas' have been affected, as well as 'natural pastures for livestock production', said Abu Assaf. Imports, competition To bridge the wheat gap, imports would be essential in a country where around 90 per cent of the population lives in poverty. Before his ouster in an Islamist-led offensive in December, Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad used to rely on ally Russia for wheat. In April, new authorities reported the first wheat shipment since his removal arrived in Latakia port, with more Russian shipments following. Iraq also donated more than 220,000 tonnes of wheat to Syria. During the war, Damascus competed with the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast to buy wheat from farmers across fertile lands. Last year, Assad's government priced wheat at US$350 (RM1,480) per tonne, and the Kurds at US$310. After Assad's ouster, Damascus and the Kurds agreed in March to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the new Syrian state, with negotiations ongoing on implementation. Damascus set wheat prices this month at between US$290 and US$320 per tonne, depending on the quality, plus a US$130 bonus. The Kurdish-led administration offered US$420 per tonne including a US$70 bonus. 'Poverty and hunger' Damascus' agriculture ministry expects a harvest of 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes in government-controlled areas this year. Hassan Othman, director of the Syrian Grain Establishment, acknowledged Syria was not self-sufficient, in comments on state television. But he said authorities were working 'to ensure food security by importing wheat from abroad and milling it in our mills'. In northeast Syria's Amuda, farmer Jamshid Hassu, 65, inspected the tiny wheat grains from his fields, which cover around 200 hectares (around 500 acres). Despite heavy irrigation efforts to offset scarce rainfall, he said, production has halved. The FAO's Abu Assaf said indicators showed that 'about 95 per cent of rain-fed wheat has been damaged and affected', while irrigated wheat yields were down 30 to 40 per cent. Hassu, who has been farming for four decades, said he had to pump water from depths of more than 160 metres (525 feet) to sustain his crops as groundwater levels plunge. Agriculture remains a vital income source in rural Syria, but without urgent support, farmers face ruin. 'Without support, we will not be able to continue,' Hassu warned. 'People will suffer from poverty and hunger.' — AFP
Bangkok Post
16 hours ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Syria's wheat war: drought fuels food crisis for 16 million
DAMASCUS - Rival Syrian and Kurdish producers are scrambling for shrinking wheat harvests as the worst drought in decades follows a devastating war, pushing more than 16 million people toward food insecurity. "The country has not seen such bad climate conditions in 60 years," said Haya Abu Assaf, assistant to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) representative in Syria. Syria's water levels have seen "a very significant drop compared to previous years, which is very worrying", Abu Assaf told Agence France-Presse (AFP), as a relatively short winter rainy season and decreased rainfall take their toll. "A gap of between 2.5 to 2.7 million tonnes in the wheat crop is expected, meaning that the wheat quantity will not be sufficient to meet local needs," Abu Assaf said, putting "around 16.3 million people at risk of food insecurity in Syria this year". Before the civil war erupted in 2011, Syria was self-sufficient in wheat, producing an average of 4.1 million tonnes annually. Nearly 14 years of conflict have since crippled production and devastated the economy. The FAO estimates that harsh weather has impacted nearly 2.5 million hectares of wheat-growing land. "Around 75% of the cultivated areas" have been affected, as well as "natural pastures for livestock production", said Abu Assaf. Imports, competition To bridge the wheat gap, imports would be essential in a country where around 90% of the population lives in poverty. Before his ouster in an Islamist-led offensive in December, Syria's longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad used to rely on ally Russia for wheat. In April, new authorities reported the first wheat shipment since his removal arrived in Latakia port, with more Russian shipments following. Iraq also donated more than 220,000 tonnes of wheat to Syria. During the war, Damascus competed with the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration in the northeast to buy wheat from farmers across fertile lands. Last year, Assad's government priced wheat at US$350 per tonne, and the Kurds at $310. After Assad's ouster, Damascus and the Kurds agreed in March to integrate Kurdish-led institutions into the new Syrian state, with negotiations ongoing on implementation. Damascus set wheat prices this month at between $290 and $320 per tonne, depending on the quality, plus a $130 bonus. The Kurdish-led administration offered $420 per tonne including a $70 bonus. 'Poverty and hunger' Damascus' agriculture ministry expects a harvest of 300,000 to 350,000 tonnes in government-controlled areas this year. Hassan Othman, director of the Syrian Grain Establishment, acknowledged Syria was not self-sufficient, in comments on state television. But he said authorities were working "to ensure food security by importing wheat from abroad and milling it in our mills". In northeast Syria's Amuda, farmer Jamshid Hassu, 65, inspected the tiny wheat grains from his fields, which cover around 200 hectares (around 500 acres). Despite heavy irrigation efforts to offset scarce rainfall, he said, production has halved. The FAO's Abu Assaf said indicators showed that "about 95% of rain-fed wheat has been damaged and affected", while irrigated wheat yields were down 30 to 40%. Hassu, who has been farming for four decades, said he had to pump water from depths of more than 160 metres (525 feet) to sustain his crops as groundwater levels plunge. Agriculture remains a vital income source in rural Syria, but without urgent support, farmers face ruin. "Without support, we will not be able to continue," Hassu warned. "People will suffer from poverty and hunger."
See - Sada Elbalad
20 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
UN Warns of Repeated Attacks on Gaza's Health Facilities Amid Intensified Israeli Offensive
Ahmed Emam The United Nations has raised the alarm over repeated attacks targeting health facilities in Gaza, warning that Palestinians are facing widespread Israeli violations. The warning comes amid what has been described as an unprecedented Israeli military escalation in northern Gaza and the eastern areas of Khan Younis in the south, resulting in extensive destruction of residential neighborhoods. Israeli military operations in Gaza continue to escalate. The areas of Jabalia al-Balad in northern Gaza and the eastern parts of Khan Younis have become the epicenters of intense fighting in recent weeks, witnessing heavy bombardments and ongoing ground incursions. The Israeli army has reportedly deployed explosive-laden robots in Jabalia town, sending them into densely populated areas at short intervals as part of complex raid operations. Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes have carried out severe airstrikes on civilian homes, forcing residents to flee their houses and move westward toward Gaza City, after receiving repeated evacuation warnings through direct phone calls from Israeli forces. In Khan Younis, particularly in the Ma'an and Sheikh Nasser neighborhoods, massive explosions have been reported due to intense artillery shelling. The Israeli ground invasion is ongoing in the eastern towns of the province. Nearly all these areas have suffered systematic bombardment and destruction, with estimates indicating that more than 90% of eastern Khan Younis has been almost completely demolished. Areas such as Baten Al-Sameen are currently under further bombardment and bulldozing operations. The latest developments underscore growing concerns among international organizations over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
Zawya
a day ago
- General
- Zawya
"West Africa has the potential to sustainably transform its food systems," says Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Subregional Coordinator for West Africa
The 2025 Regional Report on Food and Nutrition Security in the Sahel and West Africa, reveals that nearly 52 million people in the region are affected by food insecurity. In an interview with the African Press Agency (APA news), Ms. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting Subregional Coordinator of the FAO Office for West Africa said that despite the alarming figures reported, "the region has all it takes to sustainably transform its food systems," said. Recently appointed to head the office overseeing 15 West African country programs, she focuses on innovation, resilience, and inclusion to address the structural and cyclical challenges facing West African agriculture. During the interview, Ms. Tchicaya presented the priorities of her mandate. She outlined her vision and ambition for the subregion to "build more inclusive, sustainable, competitive, and nutrition-sensitive food systems, based on the "Four Betters" strategy promoted by the FAO: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life." She also emphasized that despite the combined effects of conflict, climate change, and economic volatility, viable solutions can be found. These include participatory approaches such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), support for nutrition-sensitive agricultural policies, and the implementation of green hubs as part of the Great Green Wall initiative. "In Senegal, for example, we contributed to updating the agro-sylvo-pastoral orientation law, which now includes the fisheries sector, food systems and the climate change dimension," she explained. "On the operational front, FAO has developed participatory approaches such as Farmer Field Schools and Dimitra clubs, which after years of implementation, have proven effective in driving behavior change and strong community engagement. These approaches are now being scaled up by the government and civil society organizations', she said, adding 'On the environmental front, the FAO supports the Senegalese government in implementing the Reforestation Agency and the Great Green Wall program, a bold initiative aiming to establish seventy resilient green hubs across arid and semi-arid areas between 2023 and 2032.' Faced with the decline in traditional funding, Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya calls for increased and diversified resource mobilization, focusing on: "Public-Private Partnerships, a multi-donor approach, climate and green financing, strengthened engagement with non-traditional donors (emerging countries, philanthropic foundations, regional financial institutions), increased inter-agency cooperation, community and civil society involvement, as well as South-South and triangular cooperation." Ms. Stephen-Tchicaya also emphasized FAO's strategic role in strengthening early warning systems, supporting agricultural governance, and using digital technologies and artificial intelligence to increase productivity, improve livestock traceability, and combat livestock theft, a phenomenon that is on the rise in the region. "FAO actively contributes to surveillance and early warning, particularly in the area of food security, through its participation in the regional system for the prevention and management of food crises (PREGEC), coordinated by the CILSS. FAO also has tools such as the Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS), which enables precise monitoring of the agricultural season and provides harvest forecasts. FAO will continue this support while investing more in disaster risk prevention and reduction, particularly through anticipatory actions implemented before crises worsen. FAO's true added value in the region lies in this connection between early warning and rapid response.' Furthermore, Ms. Tchicaya emphasized the importance of digital solutions for securing pastoral livelihoods: "We are convinced that the digitalization of the livestock sector constitutes an innovative and essential solution to protect pastoralists in the face of this unprecedented phenomenon in West Africa," she argued. In her closing remarks, Ms. Tchicaya issued a strong call for collective mobilization. "We must act together—governments, technical and financial partners, the private sector, and civil society—to build resilient and sustainable food systems that meet the aspirations of West African populations," she pleaded. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
