GIEWS Special Alert No. 331 - Syrian Arab Republic, 14 March 2012

Year of publication2012

AuthorFAO

PublisherFAO

AbstractContinued civil unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic since midMarch 2011 has raised serious concern over the state of food security, particularly for vulnerable groups. Following the unrest, a contraction is forecast in the 2011 real GDP and the downturn is expected to continue in 2012. Economic and trading sanctions together with the strong depreciation of the local currency (Syrian pound) are expected to negatively affect the country’s commercial import capacity, including food commodities. The imposition of an additional 30 percent tax by the Syrian Arab Republic on goods imported from Turkey is expected to put further pressure on domestic prices and hence reduce access to food particularly for poorer households. According to the Syrian Central Bureau of Statistics, inflation increased between June and December 2011 by about 15 percent, mainly driven by sharp increases in food prices and by fuel shortages that are impacting on transportation costs.

 

Product typeNewsletter

SeriesGIEWS - Special Alerts

CountrySyrian Arab Republic

RegionNear East and North Africa

ISSN2707-1766

Areas of workGlobal Information and Early Warning System

KeywordsFood supply; food production; production data; forecasting; food aid.