Rome - The spread and intensification of conflicts and crisis in the Near East and North Africa accentuate the severe food insecurity that affects more than 30 million people, FAO has warned today.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in its report on food insecurity in that region notes that the escalating violence and other phenomena have worsened malnutrition, stunting, anemia and poverty.

In particular, it makes reference to the acute crisis in Syria due to the war, where more than half of the population needs food aid with more than four million 800,000 displaced people, mostly to neighboring nations, a situation similar to that of Iraq and Yemen.

In addition, according to the report, the region faces unprecedented challenges to its food security due to the multiple consequences of conflicts, coupled with water scarcity and climate change impacts.

Abdessalam Ould, Deputy Director-General of FAO and its representative for the region, considered it was imperative that the supply of the vital liquid be sustained for the United Nations goal of zero hunger in 2030.

He noted that a peaceful and stable environment is an indispensable prerequisite for farmers to overcome these challenges and scarcity.

FAO outlines a number of positive experiences in water management and adaptation to climate change in the region.

It also indicates the importance of accelerating investments aimed at improving efficiency and productivity and sustaining the need for changes in agricultural patterns towards less water-consuming crops.

It also refers to options for addressing these challenges, such as designing and implementing social protection measures to strengthen farmers' resilience to extreme events, reduce food loss and improve trade policies.

The text calls for greater regional collaboration to address these challenges and calls for the political will expressed by the leaders of the region and the positive experiences that exist in many countries to solve such problems.