"The United Nations warns of serious threats to food security in Syria."

The United Nations has warned of serious threats to food security in Syria, following the ongoing war's impact on wheat production and bread supply. A new report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that Syria remains one of the most complex humanitarian crises in the world, significantly affecting its basic food production and supply, particularly bread.

The report highlighted that the compounded effects of the Syrian crisis have deeply impacted wheat production and milling, posing a serious threat to food security and the general welfare of the population. It also confirmed a decrease in wheat production, with reports indicating significant damage to vital food security infrastructure, including bakeries, mills, and silos, since the conflict began.

According to the report, 58% of wheat farmers in northwest Syria reported a decline in crops for the 2023-2024 season, especially in Idlib and Hama, jeopardizing bread availability and potentially leading to price hikes next year. It was noted that country-wide bakeries do not meet the population's needs, with the largest production gaps recorded in Aleppo and Idlib governorates.

The report emphasized that 63% of respondents indicated people are struggling to afford bread, reflecting disparities in bread access and disruptions in the supply chain, highlighting that most evaluated bakeries, silos, and mills are either not operational or only partially functioning.

In a related context, the United Nations, in collaboration with other humanitarian entities, has worked on supporting the wheat-to-bread supply chain by rehabilitating infrastructure and providing essential inputs to ensure bread availability in northwest Syria.