the UN, short of funding, announces to cut its food aid by almost half

A clear brake on financial means. The UN announced on Tuesday, June 13, to have to reduce by almost half its aid to Syrians in need of basic food aid. “An unprecedented funding crisis in Syria forces the World Food Program (WFP) to reduce its basic food assistance by 2.5 million people, down from 5.5 million” rescued so far, WFP said in a statement.

“After considering all his options” and rather than see all of its reserves depleted by October, the WFP says it had to choose to come to the aid of the “three million Syrians unable to get by from one week to the next without food aid”. “Instead of increasing (operations) or simply keeping pace with growing needs, we face the grim scenario of depriving part of the population of assistance, when people need it most”lamented Kenn Crossle, WFP representative in Syria.

The UN agency’s announcement comes on the eve of the 7th European Union conference in Brussels on the future of Syria and the region, as the country emerges bloodless from 12 years of war that have made a half a million dead, displaced millions and fragmented the country. A situation aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a serious economic crisis and caused prices to explode, as well as by the devastating earthquake of February 6. “Currently, an average monthly income covers only about a quarter of a family’s food needs”notes the WFP.