Page 33 - FULL YEAR BOOK 2021

Kuwait

KUWAIT’S AID TO IMPROVE LIVELIHOOD OF

VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN SYRIA

fertilizers, pesticides, fuel and labor. A multi-layered
The generous Kuwaiti contribution came
at a time for us to address and tackle economic crisis
these impacts. However, there’s always
more we can do”, Ould Ahmed stated,
thanking the Government of Kuwait for According to a recently
its latest donation of $3 million. published situation report:
The State of Kuwait 1. The humanitarian needs in Syria
and FAO: Restoring became more critical amid impacts
of the coronavirus disease 2019
Syrian farmers prepare to carry livelihoods (COVID-19).
the wheat seed 2. The impacts of the COVID-19
Since August 2019, Kuwait’s generous pandemic, particularly movement
Amid a continuing crisis of the contribution helped FAO assist 18 000 restrictions and curfews, are likely
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highly vulnerable people and their to worsen the food security and
pandemic, the international community extended families in Syria through the livelihoods situation significantly.
grows concerns about its impact on provision of quality agricultural inputs, 3. These implications added to
people across Syria, whose livelihood such as cereal and vegetable seeds, conflict, displacement, returns,
and resilience have been decimated irrigation kits and feed for their animals, limited livelihood opportunities as
by almost a decade of war. However, combined with training on good drivers of a major economic crisis
with the efforts of the United Nation’s agricultural practices. following the collapse of the Syrian
member countries, a glimpse of Pound.
hope is always there within the most By reaching 8,500 farming families
vulnerable communities affected by in Daraa, As-Sweida and Hama 4. The number of food-insecure
conflict and crises. The voluntarily and governorates with wheat and seasonal people is anticipated to increase in
broad support from a handful of United vegetable seed, farmers will be 2020 due to the lack of livelihood
Nations’ member states is the backbone harvesting tomatoes, eggplants and opportunities and high food prices
for humanitarian aid to countries in cucumber by mid-July. Rehabilitating of despite a positive forecast for cereal
need. two fodder nurseries, will benefit about production. Though there remains
10 000 small-scale livestock herders a lack of functional agricultural
In that context, Dr. Tarek Elsheikh, and contribute to feeding availability infrastructure that continues to
the Representative of the United for their animals at Al Badia in Hama constrain production, the 2020
Nations Secretary-General and and Deir Ez-Zor governorates. The cereal production projection is
Resident Coordinator for Kuwait intervention will also help to restore favorable.
and Mr. Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, natural grazing areas in these locations.
Regional Representative of the Food and A total of 9.3 million people are facing
Agriculture Organization of the United FAO and Kuwait have collaborated to severe and acute food insecurity, and
Nations (FAO) for the Near East and improve the most vulnerable farmers’ an additional 1.9 million people are at
North Africa have praised and welcomed living situation by providing improved risk of food insecurity. The number of
the Government of Kuwait’s continuous wheat seed. Each farmer received 200 internally displaced people (IDP) rose to
and generous humanitarian aid to the kg seed, enough to plant a one-hectare 6.2 million, the largest population of IDPs
people of Syria and other vulnerable plot of land. The enhanced security in the world. Concurrently, displaced
communities in the Middle East. situation from September 2019 allowed people have begun to return to their
a large number of farmers to return to land and are facing severe challenges in
Dr. Tarek El Sheikh acknowledged their lands and resume their activities.
the UN-bestowed status of Kuwait, as Yet, they lacked access to agriculture resuming their production.
an International Humanitarian Center. inputs and needed to find good quality Returnees in Syria require support,
“Kuwait sat up a role model for response seed if they were to go ahead with including the provision of agricultural
to the humanitarian emergencies in Syria cultivation. inputs, infrastructure rehabilitation
and other parts of the world throughout and veterinary services. “Without the
the recent months, in a statement of More broadly, Kuwait and FAO are adequate support, returnees could be
its content to help countries in crises increasingly working together to fight forced to leave their land again, and
anywhere on the planet”, he stated. hunger and malnutrition, and come to that puts unwanted pressure on Syria’s
the aid of disaster-stricken communities economy and livelihood of its people.
“Like many other countries in crisis, in the NENA region and beyond, in
the consequences of COVID-19 control countries such as Yemen, Somalia, South Partnerships are essential in our efforts
to reverse the impact of COVID-19 and
measures in Syria are impacting the Sudan and Nigeria. make sure vulnerable people are not left
agriculture sector. The accessibility to behind” Ould Ahmed emphasized.
markets is reduced, leading to higher
prices for inputs, including seeds,

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