Funding shortfall forces WFP to announce cutbacks to food assistance for Syrians

AMMAN — The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that it is running out of funds to provide food for almost 6 million Syrians receiving its life-saving assistance. 

In Syria, the size of next month’s food ration will be reduced and in neighbouring countries, including Jordan, the number of refugees receiving food or vouchers will be cut, according to a WFP statement e-mailed to The Jordan Times.

 “We have reached a critical point in our humanitarian response in Syria and in neighbouring countries and unless we manage to secure significant funding in the next few days, I am afraid we will have no choice but to scale back our operation,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP’s regional emergency coordinator for the Syrian crisis.

WFP is funded entirely by contributions from governments, the private sector, other organisations and individuals, the statement said. 

Acknowledging that other emergencies were competing for donors’ attention and that aid budgets were stretched, he stressed that needs were still high in Syria, and that the international community had made progress in recent weeks in gaining access to many people in hard-to-reach areas.

“The world has come together with huge generosity to provide food and other assistance over the last three years, and it is heart-breaking to think that we can no longer build on that investment that has given some stability to the shattered lives of so many people,” the statement quoted Hadi as saying.

WFP requires $352 million for its operations as a whole until the end of the year, including $95 million for its work inside Syria and $257 million to support refugees in neighbouring countries. 

In Jordan, monthly assistance to around 440,000 refugees living in towns and villages will be reduced from $34 to $16, but support to camps will be maintained, the statement said. 

Abou Anas and his family have been receiving WFP food vouchers in the capital, and he is deeply worried. 

“Imagine someone drowning,” he said. “You throw them a rescue float. They survive, but remain in the water. You suddenly decide to take it away. They die.”

Food security data in Jordan suggests that 85 per cent of refugee families would not have the necessary financial resources to meet their food needs without assistance, the agency said. 

WFP said it is concerned that without support, people will be vulnerable to exploitation and will resort to measures such as begging, sending children out to work or marrying girls off early.