The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it is suspending a food aid scheme for Syrian refugees due to a funding crisis, leaving more than 1.7 million at risk of going hungry this winter.
WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin appealed to donors for more funding, stating “a suspension of WFP food assistance will endanger the health and safety of these refugees and will potentially cause further tensions, instability and insecurity in the neighbouring host countries.”
“The suspension of WFP food assistance will be disastrous for many already suffering families,” she added.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres stated the suspension “couldn’t come at a worse time.” “It will impact tens of thousands of the most vulnerable refugee families who are almost entirely dependent on international aid,” added the High Commissioner.
WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told Reuters that refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt would have their food voucher scheme suspended, saying, "WFP will not be able to continue its life-saving operations inside Syria in February without additional funding.”
A total of US$64m (£41m) is needed to support Syrian refugees throughout December alone.
Also see our earlier post: Conflict in Iraq and Syria leaves 13.6 million displaced says UN (11 Nov 2014)
WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin appealed to donors for more funding, stating “a suspension of WFP food assistance will endanger the health and safety of these refugees and will potentially cause further tensions, instability and insecurity in the neighbouring host countries.”
“The suspension of WFP food assistance will be disastrous for many already suffering families,” she added.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres stated the suspension “couldn’t come at a worse time.” “It will impact tens of thousands of the most vulnerable refugee families who are almost entirely dependent on international aid,” added the High Commissioner.
WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs told Reuters that refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt would have their food voucher scheme suspended, saying, "WFP will not be able to continue its life-saving operations inside Syria in February without additional funding.”
A total of US$64m (£41m) is needed to support Syrian refugees throughout December alone.
Also see our earlier post: Conflict in Iraq and Syria leaves 13.6 million displaced says UN (11 Nov 2014)