A report published by the press office of this international institution states that during the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Middle East, held in Rome, the Director-General of the organization, Qu Dongyu, reaffirmed that “peace is an indispensable requirement for food security.”

The current crisis in the region, exacerbated by the start of the war against Iran by the United States and Israel on January 28, and the attacks by Zionist forces against Lebanon, “is putting greater pressure on fragile agri-food systems and global supply chains,” Qu said.

This situation has a very negative impact on all agricultural inputs, including chemicals and machinery, as well as fertilizers, while also “affecting the availability, access, and affordability of food,” the senior official added.

The ministerial conference brought together ministers and policymakers from across the region to discuss the increasingly complex and interconnected landscape of risks that seriously affect agri-food systems and food security.

At the conference, the FAO Director-General stressed “the immense importance of maintaining trade flows and ensuring access to sufficient food for all, particularly in countries that depend on imports.”

abo/arm/mem/ort