UN cuts emergency food aid to Syria by 50%

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it is forced to significantly reduce its operations in Syria due to a lack of funding, including cutting emergency food aid.

The Rome-based WFP said in a statement that it will reduce the number of beneficiaries of emergency aid from 1.3 million people to 650,000.

It noted that Syria has seen relative stability since the end of the civil war, while 7.2 million people still suffer from acute food insecurity.

As part of its operations, the WFP explained that it has supported more than 300 bakeries by providing them with fortified wheat flour.

The statement noted that "the bread subsidy program has been a lifeline, maintaining the affordability of this essential food."

The World Food Programme's Country Director in Syria, Marianne Ward, said that "the reduction in WFP assistance is solely due to a lack of funding, not a decrease in needs."

She added, "This is a critical moment for Syria. Recovery remains fragile, needs are immense, and we are forced to withdraw a vital safety net."

The WFP also indicated that the funding shortfall is impacting Syrian refugees in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon.

According to the WFP Regional Director, Samer Abdel Jaber, "The most vulnerable families in the region are facing the compounding effects of protracted crises, rising costs, and reduced aid."

The WFP explained that it needs $189 million over the next six months to maintain and resume current assistance in Syria.

ANHA