Voice from the field - Syria: record 12.4 million people food insecure after a decade of conflict

Syria: record 12.4 million people food  insecure after a decade of conflict 

As the 5th annual Brussels Conference on Syria marked a bleak anniversary, an FSL Cluster Co-Coordinator reflects on his work there and his hopes for the future of his homeland 

Today an unprecedented 12.4 million people in Syria – some 60 percent the population – are food insecure. After a decade of conflict, 2020 was one of the country’s most turbulent years ever: a global pandemic, ongoing insecurity and violence, the collapse of the Syrian pound and food prices soaring by over 220 percent have collided to form a catastrophic outlook. With people typically queuing for hours to buy fuel, bread, and other necessities they can barely afford, COVID-19 is a constant source of anxiety that only adds to concerns about where families might get their next meal from.  
Anas Almohammad, from Deir ez-Zor in Eastern Syria, is Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL) Cluster Co-Coordinator for the North West Syria hub, based in Turkey. Due to the conflict, he has not been able to visit his relatives since leaving in 2014. Having previously worked for the Ministry of Agriculture in Syria, he now leads the Cluster’s Agriculture technical working group and Bread and Bakeries coordination group, helping people to access basic foods that would otherwise be out of reach.