More than 50 percent of Syrians “food insecure” – WFP

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – About 12.1 million people in Syria are currently food insecure, 2.9 million are at risk of sliding into hunger, malnutrition is on the rise, and stunting and maternal malnutrition rates reaching levels never seen before, World Food Programme (WFP) reported on Tuesday.

The WFP highlighted, in a report, an urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance as the country grapples with the devastating impact of recent earthquakes and a 12-year-long conflict.

An average monthly wage in Syria covers about a quarter of a family’s food needs, according to the report.

“Bombardment, displacement, isolation, drought, economic meltdown, and now earthquakes of staggering proportions,” Kenn Crossley, WFP Country Director in Syria, said.

The earthquakes came “as food prices in Syria were already soaring.” Food prices have almost doubled in price in 12 months and is 13 times more expensive than three years ago, according to the report.

Since the earthquake hit north Syria, the WFP has reached 1.7 million quake-affected people, including those who already were benefiting from monthly food assistance.

The WFP urgently requires a minimum of $450 million to keep up assistance for over 5.5 million people across Syria for the rest of 2023, including $150 million to support 800.000 the earthquake-affected people for six months, the report read.

In case there were no sufficient resources, the WFP will have to reduce the number of beneficiaries it serves from July 2022 onwards, “leaving millions of people in deep need without food assistance,” the report added.

Reporting by Emma Jamal