What's New

In a one-day visit to Beirut, FAO Deputy Director-General, Maurizio Martina; FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa, Abdul Hakim Elwaer; Director of FAO’s Office of Emergency and Resilience, Rein Paulsen; Piergiorgio Trentinaglia, Chief  Security, FAO Representative in Lebanon, Nora Ourabah Haddad and Etienne Careme, FAO Lebanon Liaison and Resilience Officer met with key partners to strengthen collaboration and foster transformative initiatives.

The Beirut Housing Rehabilitation and Cultural and Creative Industries Recovery Project (BERYT) is officially  concluding, marking a significant milestone in restoring Beirut’s historic fabric and supporting families affected by the devastating Port of Beirut explosion of August 2020.

The UN Secretary-General has condemned an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday, while highlighting the “very positive role” played by the country in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages.

In a statement, António Guterres spoke out against what he called a “flagrant violation” of Qatari sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Global military spending reached an unprecedented $2.7 trillion in 2024 amid intensifying wars and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide. 

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Government of the Republic of Korea have officially inaugurated the fully rehabilitated Bekaa regional Civil Defense Centre in Zahle, marking a significant step in enhancing emergency preparedness and crisis response capacities in the Bekaa region.

Syria’s agriculture sector is reeling from one of the worst droughts in nearly 40 years, compounded by over 14 years of conflict, widespread destruction of infrastructure and deep economic collapse. These overlapping crises are driving food production to alarming lows  and placing unbearable pressure on thousands of farmers across the country.

During a recent field visit to meet and engage with vulnerable farmers, Rein Paulsen, Director of the FAO Office of Emergencies and Resilience, emphasized the severity of the situation:

Amid Lebanon’s multiple crises, a new generation of young women is stepping forward with the UN's support, claiming their roles as leaders, not mere observers.

When someone raised their voice in a room, Reem Herzallah’s instinct was always to leave. The Beirut Arab University student avoided conflict, believing that her place was to stay quiet while others dominated the conversation.

Following a devastating 15-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants focused on southern Lebanon, the November 2024 cessation of hostilities created a fragile calm along the Blue Line separating the two countries. 

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday issued a new warning over the deadly impacts of the ongoing Israeli blockade of Gaza on people there now suffering starvation.

In an online alert, the UN agency said that disease and hunger will only increase, unless all Israeli impediments to aid delivery at scale are removed and access is allowed across the Strip.

The killing of five more Palestinian journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces – bringing the total killed overall to 247 since the war began – should shock the world into action, the UN human rights office said on Tuesday.