UN World Food Programme to End Main Assistance Programme in Syria

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it will end its main assistance programme in war-torn Syria in January, leaving millions of people without regular access to sufficient food.The agency said it will keep smaller aid programmes running in the country.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Monday that it will discontinue its primary assistance programme in war-torn Syria in January. This decision affects over 12 million people who lack regular access to sufficient food in the country.

WFP Scales Down Support in Syria and Neighboring Countries

In recent years, WFP has gradually reduced its support in Syria and neighboring countries hosting millions of Syrian refugees who fled the ongoing conflict. The organization's statement highlights the struggle of humanitarian agencies to garner global attention and resources for Syria amid donor fatigue and limited budgets.

Assistance Cuts and Budget Constraints

In July, WFP announced that it had to cut assistance to nearly half of the 5.5 million Syrians it supported due to budget constraints. The agency further reduced cash aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan in August. In November, WFP and the UN refugee agency announced plans to decrease the number of Syrian refugees receiving cash assistance in Lebanon by a third in the coming year.

WFP to Maintain Smaller Aid Programmes

Despite the termination of its main assistance programme, WFP will continue operating smaller aid initiatives in Syria. These include a school meals programme and projects focused on rehabilitating the country's irrigation systems and bakeries. The agency's most recent report in September indicated that 3.2 million Syrians benefited from its programmes.

Global Donor Fatigue and Competing Needs

WFP, along with other major humanitarian organizations, expanded its support for Syrians within the country and those who sought refuge in Lebanon, Turkiye, Jordan, and Iraq following the outbreak of the Syrian uprising in 2011. However, the organization cites global donor fatigue, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing war in Ukraine as reasons for its shrinking budgets for Syria. Meanwhile, needs have escalated in the Gaza Strip due to the Hamas-Israel conflict.

Grim Economic Outlook in Syria

Although the intensity of fighting in Syria has diminished, the economic outlook remains bleak across the country. Whether in government-held territories, the northwestern enclave controlled by al-Qaida-linked militants and Turkish-backed rebels, or the northeast governed by US-backed Kurdish-led forces, the situation is dire. The UN estimates that 90 percent of the Syrian population lives in poverty. The national currency has experienced a sharp decline in value, illegal drug trade is rampant, and unemployed Syrians seek opportunities abroad.

The UN World Food Programme's decision to end its main assistance programme in Syria underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis in the country. As the conflict enters its 13th year, the international community must redouble its efforts to address the urgent needs of the Syrian people.