FAO+-+LEBANON

Madeleine Wasko Lebanon FAO Arundel High 1-30-14


 * Access to Food in Post-Conflict Situations **

The FAO aims to provide countries in post-conflict situations with the available resources to grow crops and sustain an ample food source for the citizens. It wants to accomplish this goal with as little negative repercussions as possible. The FAO does not want to prolong already existing conflicts or allow new ones to arise by intervening, but still believes some action need to be taken. Lebanon supports direct aid for countries facing food security issues in times of conflict, as seen with Syria. The neighboring country is experiencing a humanitarian crisis and Lebanon has no problem hosting refugees and providing them with the needed essentials to survive.

The Syrian crisis arose from small gatherings to protest the Assad regime, and has since grown into a fully blown civil war with violent tactics. The Syrian government did not hesitate to use extreme actions, violating the humanitarian rights of the people, in order to suppress the protests. The conflict has been brought to the attention of the international community and most countries agree that some form of aid needs to be considered. There is an alarming number of refugees that need to be taken care of and they cannot rely on the help of neighboring countries forever. The food security of countries hosting the refugees is being jeopardized by the rapidly increasing number of mouths to feed, while there is no food security in Syria as the citizens feel threatened and are in hiding or trying to evacuate.

As for a solution to the problem, for now depending on neighboring countries, such as Lebanon, for supplies is only an okay option. Alternative actions need to quickly take place so that the conflict doesn't start to take a toll on Lebanon and other surrounding countries. Another method of providing food would be to send in seeds for agriculture and securing plots of land for growth. The downfall to this solution is that it may be difficult to accomplish without the help of the military. Although, military action may be necessary to stop the government from continuing to commit these horrendous crimes against the people of Syria and for the country to achieve food safety. Lebanon will surely continue to help out refugees and brainstorm new ways to provide food without directly interfering in the conflict.


 * Poverty Reduction through Agriculture **

Poverty in Lebanon is a huge problem for many farmers and other people living in rural areas. 28.5% of the population is currently living in poverty and 13% of

 those people are living in rural areas. Lebanese farmers are at a serious disadvantage due to the high production costs, lack of money to pay the costs, poor

agricultural policies, and small plots of land to farm on. The cost of production is so high in Lebanon due to the inefficient irrigation systems, hiring of workers,

rocky terrain for farming, and a small domestic market. The people are living in poverty because they do not have the means to pay for the proper farming

supplies and even if the did, the market for goods is so small that they would barely make a profit. The Lebanese hope to improve these conditions and help

farmers sustain a living.

In November 2006 Lebanon was involved in a military conflict with northern Israel and the Golan Heights. Although the conflict only lasted for 34 days, it took a huge toll on the economy and agriculture. The damage done amounted out to be about 280 million US dollars. With this huge hole in the economy the government attempted to establish long-term recovery plans. Shortly after the war the Swedish government held a conference to offer support to Lebanon which ended up raising about $900 million for immediate recovery costs. The Iranian government also offered money to all those that lost their homes and did indeed repay some of the money but not nearly the amount that was needed. The Lebanese government also came up with a recovery plan but failed to implement it leaving the country in a poor state.

As opposed to the plan that was already tried and failed, the government needs to focus more on creating areas available for agriculture and making that land available to farmers at cheaper prices or with loans, along with proper irrigation techniques. This will provide many poor farmers with the means to grow crops for their families and for sale in markets, stimulating the economy and adding more value to the market. Farmers that decide to grow on these lands also need to start of with less paid workers and do more of the work within the family, then once they have gained a substantial profit they can start hiring workers which will also help the economy by creating more jobs.

 