S. Arabia contributes $6.8m to WFP Jordan, providing critical support to refugees

AMMAN — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed a generous contribution of$6.8 million from Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), to support its operations in Jordan. 

This funding will provide much-needed support to Syrian refugees residing in camps and “arrives just in the nick of time to avert imminent further cuts in food assistance”. 

The agreement was signed between Ahmed Al Baiz, Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programmes at KSrelief, and Mageed Yahia, WFP Representative to the GCC, according to a statement from WFP. 

“As part of KSrelief’s strategic partnership with WFP, we are pleased to announce an important financial contribution to assist vulnerable Syrian refugees in Jordan,” said Albaiz. “With great optimism, we hope that this third phase of support for Syrian refugees will successfully achieve its goals and make a substantial impact in alleviating the food insecurity and malnutrition faced by Syrian refugees” he added.

“The Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia’s] timely contribution will enable us to continue providing essential food assistance to Syrian refugees in camps amidst pressing funding shortfalls,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Jordan Alberto Correia Mendes. “This contribution is a testament to the strong partnership between Saudi Arabia and WFP, which has consistently focused on helping refugees meet their food needs and alleviating hunger for those in need.”

Despite this new funding, WFP still urgently needs $23 million to continue providing food assistance at the current reduced levels through the end of the year. Without timely additional funding, WFP will be compelled to suspend assistance for in and out-of-camp refugees in October.

This important support to WFP operations in Jordan is not the first of its kind; Saudi Arabia previously contributed to provide assistance to Syrian refugees residing in camps in 2021 and 2022 with contributions of $12.8 million and $6 million, respectively. With this year’s contribution, Saudi Arabia reaffirms its role as a prominent donor supporting vulnerable refugees in Jordan.

WFP has been present in Jordan since 1964 as a strategic and operating partner for the Government of Jordan. Throughout this longstanding partnership, WFP has focused on enhancing the capacities of national institutions, their strategies, systems and programmes, while providing humanitarian and livelihood support to the most vulnerable populations.