UN Food Aid to 1.7 Million Syrian Refugees Halted

The World Food Programme announced on Monday, December 1, that due to budget shortfalls, it has halted food assistance to 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt. According to a statement from the UN agency reported by Reuters from Geneva, "Without the World Food Programme's assistance, many families will go hungry. The consequences of this aid suspension for refugees facing the harsh winter cold will be catastrophic." The World Food Programme needs $64 million in December to continue supporting Syrian refugees. The suspension of food aid comes as families face their fourth cold winter and the difficult living conditions they have endured since the start of the Syrian civil war in March 2011. Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, stated, "The aid cut could not have come at a worse time." The impact of the UN aid suspension may be particularly severe in Lebanon. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, over 1.1 million Syrian refugees, equivalent to a quarter of Lebanon's resident population, are scattered across 1,700 towns and villages in various regions of the country. Many of them live in temporary camps, warehouses, garages, and unfinished buildings. The UN had previously provided $800 million to Syrian refugees through the distribution of electronic vouchers redeemable in host country stores. The World Food Programme stated that it would resume its assistance as soon as it receives sufficient funding. Reuters further reports that it remains unclear how Syrian refugees will fill the gap left by the UN's aid. The World Food Programme had warned last month that it might have to suspend this assistance. The agency added that it might also have to implement similar measures regarding Syrian refugees within the country in January. At least 7.6 million Syrians have become homeless inside the country. The agency has cut vouchers for over four million people who depend on the organization's food assistance in Syria. Elizabeth Byrs, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme, told Reuters on Monday, "Without additional financial support, the World Food Programme will not be able to continue its humanitarian operations in Syria in February." The UN High Commissioner for Refugees stated that due to a lack of financial resources, the organization must prioritize its aid. Given the winter season, this assistance will primarily be directed to individuals living in mountainous areas, cold highlands, or vulnerable groups, including infants.