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Relief agency Medair’s reaction to WFP food assistance cuts

by Medair | Medair - Switzerland
Thursday, 4 December 2014 15:27 GMT

Medair

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* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced it has been forced to suspend its critical programme providing food assistance to 1.7 million Syrian refugees.

Clare Tunbridge is Regional Representative for Medair’s Syrian Crisis Programme.

“After more than three years of civil war in Syria, displaced people in the region are becoming increasingly vulnerable. With winter approaching, the conflict continuing to spill over into neighbouring countries, and very little employment opportunity available, refugees are in greater need now more than ever.  

“The WFP has been forced to cut food assistance to 1.7 million Syrian refugees due to lack of funding. This comes during the coldest months of the year with very little notice for dependent families. It is feared the cuts will not only intensify the already fragile situation for refugees, but increase the pressure on the communities who are hosting them.

“Many refugees have nothing and hundreds of thousands are now left without help for food. More than half of Syrian refugees are children. Their families already struggle to find clean water and warm shelter, and now they must cope without even the most basic assistance. Many will be forced to spend their scare resources on food rather than on preparing for winter.

“The international community needs to respond to the overwhelming needs of refugees and support the WFP and other humanitarian agencies involved in providing aid to Syrian refugees.”

 

Medair began responding to the Syrian crisis in 2012 and has provided more than 100,000 people with lifesaving relief.

For media

For more information, please contact Abigail Woodcock, Press Relations Officer (English) abigail.woodcock@medair.org +41 (0)21 694 84 72 or +41 (0)78 635 30 95

For enquiries and interviews from Lebanon, please contact: Megan Fraga, Communications Officer (English) comms-syr@medair.org +961 71 417639

Medair helps people who are suffering in remote and devastated communities around the world survive crises, recover with dignity, and develop skills to build a better future.

For more information about Medair’s Syrian Crisis Programme, please click here.  

 

This web update was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.

Medair's Syrian Crisis Programme is sponsored by the EC Directorate-General for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, South Sudan Common Humanitarian Fund,  US Agency for International Development, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, US Department of State (BPRM), Draagt Elkanders Lasten, EO Metterdaad, and private donors.

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