WFP slashes cash aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – World Food Program (WFP) said Tuesday it will reduce monthly cash aid for 120,000 Syrian refugees living in Jordan because of what it described as an “unprecedented funding crisis.”

The Washington Post reported, citing the WFP that starting in August, the monthly cash allowance for the Syrian refugees will be reduced from $32 to $21.

Jordan is a country of 11 million people and hosts some 1.3 million refugees from Syria. Most of them live in the kingdom’s towns and cities, while several tens of thousands have settled in two camps — Zaatari and Azraq.

Jordanian officials have warned that the kingdom cannot fill the gap left by international donors.

“As funding dries up, our hands are tied,” said Alberto Correia Mendes, the WFP representative for Jordan.

“There is an imminent risk that the situation is sliding back into a humanitarian crisis with serious consequences for refugees and host communities,” Dominik Bartsch, WFP representative to Jordan said.

On July 13, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi called on the WFP and other donors not to cut support for Syrian refugees due to the repercussions that could ensue.

Reporting by Emma Jamal