GIEWS has released a special alert for the Syrian Arab Republic, citing continued civil unrest that is threatening food security in the country, particularly for vulnerable groups. According to the World Food Programme, approximately 1.4 million people have become food insecure since the start of the civil unrest. The outlook for the 2012 winter cereal crops could suffer due to disruptions in overall agricultural activities and limited access to fertilizer and seeds. It is also reported that civil insecurity in several areas has prevented farmers from accessing their farmland during the harvest. Imports have also been affected due to economic and trade sanctions, as well as a 30 percent tax imposed on goods imported from Turkey.
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