Norway increases food assistance to Syria by USD 10 million

The UN World Food Programme has suspended food aid to 1.7 million refugees in Syria’s neighbouring countries, due to lack of funding. ‘There is an urgent need for food assistance. Support from the World Food Programme is the only source of food for many families. The Government intends to increase Norway’s contribution to WFP by USD 10 million,’ said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende. 

More than 12 million people in Syria and an additional 3 million refugees from Syria are in acute need of assistance. The World Food Programme warns of devastating consequences and has asked Norway and other donors for immediate contributions so that food aid can be resumed as quickly as possible. In light of the dramatic situation, the Government intends to provide USD 10 million for the World Food Programme’s efforts in Syria and the neighbouring countries.  

‘I am deeply concerned about the situation for Syrians, who are suffering terribly as a result of this meaningless war. Several million Syrians are in dire need of help, and the situation will worsen as winter approaches. The lack of emergency assistance will result not only in a deterioration of the humanitarian situation; it may also cause further insecurity and instability in the neighbouring countries,’ said Mr Brende. 

On 1 December, the World Food Programme announced the suspension of the refugee food assistance programme in Syria’s neighbouring countries of Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey and Jordan. The World Food Programme has warned that emergency response funds in Syria are also about to run out.