FSS Sitrep2_ Repercussions of Ukraine crisis on food security in Syria

The Ukraine crisis impact on supplies a significant increase in the cost of food commodities and agricultural production inputs, as well as goods and merchandise, especially food with the transportation of dry bulk goods increasing by 60 percent between February and May 2022 in Syria, and affecting the food security and livelihoods situation of crisis-affected families in Syria, the living conditions and economic situation, remains significantly challenging and in some locations, Syrian families, especially the most vulnerable, including women, children and the disabled, continue to face sever-al challenges and obstacles. These include the prolonged conflict, severe weather fluctuations and drought-like conditions, the protracted Covid-19 epidemic and its local and global economic effects, exchange rate fluctuations and local currency depreciation, water scarcity and high cost of energy and fuel resources.

 

Key summary notes:-

  • The politico-economic reverberations of the crisis are likely to entail disruptions to key commodity and energy supplies, a more challenging resource mobilization environment for humanitarian operations, and a re-assessment of options by the various stakeholders mired in conflicts across the region particularly in countries like Syria where Russia is directly involved.
  • Triggered by trade sanctions, mounting shipping costs, and reduced exports, disruptions to the food supply chain including for humanitarian aid are very likely and will be accompanied by further increases in food prices that have already risen due to the pandemic and climate change.
  • Food production can also suffer since Russia is a top global exporter of agricultural fertilizers, which could potentially limit the impact of a scale up in food production.
  • As fuel, electricity, food, and water become increasingly unaffordable, these developments are likely to deepen socioeconomic decline, exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, aggravate food and water security, and spark social unrest (especially in non-oil exporting countries).
  • Impacts of the Ukrainian crisis are likely to weigh heavy on Syrians purchasing power (i.e.: during April, the minimum wage of 92,970 SYP could only afford 29 percent of one WFP reference food basket).

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