By Kathryn Ryan
Impunity Watch, Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – The World Food Programme (WFP), The United Nations’ food agency, has announced that it is suspending its food Programme which serve more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees because the agency has run out of money to fund the Programme. On Monday, The World Food Programme that it “immediately needs” at least $64 million in December alone to support the Syrian refugees who have fled the deadly conflict in Syria and are now living in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey. Since the Syrian Civil war began in 2011 more than three million people have fled the country and are now living as refugees. The World Food Programme is the world’s largest agency dedicated to ending world hunger and is a critical source of food for refugees struggling to survive around the world.

The World Food Programme (WFP) provides basic staples to refugee families and provide vouchers allowing families to purchase much needed food in local shops, however the funding crisis facing The World Food Programme (WFP) threatens the future of refugees as they head into the harsh winter months. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

“A suspension of World Food Programme food assistance will endanger the health and safety of these refugees and will potentially cause further tensions, instability and insecurity in the neighboring host countries,” said World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, in an appeal to donors. “The suspension of WFP food assistance will be disastrous for many already suffering families.”

World Food Programme uses a voucher program that allows refugees to buy food World Food buy food for themselves and their families in local shops. The United Nations provides basic staples like flour, cooking oil and sugar directly to refugees. The Programme also gives vital food vouchers to pregnant and nursing mothers. According to the United Nations, “without WFP vouchers, many families will go hungry. For refugees already struggling to survive the harsh winter, the consequences of halting this assistance will be devastating.”

The funding cuts could be devastate both Syrian refugee populations and internally displaced families still living in Syria. Every month, the United Nations feeds more than four million people inside Syria, and more than a million more now living as refugees in other countries.

Muhannad Hadi, the United Nations coordinator of the food Programme, said “It’s definitely a catastrophe.” He added, “if we cannot deliver the food voucher, they simply would not be able to eat.” The World Food Program is asking the world to help address this international crisis and as Syrian refugees face a harsh winter ahead, the consequences of being forced to suspend critical food services due to lack of funding could be devastating for those who depend on the agency for their survival and the survival of their families.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – UN runs out of money to feed Syrian refugees – 1 December 2014

BBC News – Syria conflict: WFP suspends refugee food aid scheme – 1 December 2014

The New York Times – World Food Program, Short on Money, Says It – 1 December 2014

The Wall Street Journal – United Nations’ Food Program Halts Aid to Syrian Refugees – 1 December 2014

 

Author: Impunity Watch Archive