WFP, South Korea launch $5 million Syria food, nutrition program
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The Republic of Korea and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday launched the second phase of their REACH initiative, providing $5 million in food and nutrition assistance to about 38,000 vulnerable people in Syria over the next 12 months.
The program expands on the first phase, which provided cash-based food assistance to nearly 95,000 people in 2025. WFP monitoring showed the share of assisted households with acceptable food consumption scores rising from 63 percent in 2024 to 71 percent in 2025.
Under the new phase, 10,000 people from severely food-insecure households will receive monthly cash or voucher assistance, depending on local market conditions and access to financial services.
The initiative will also provide treatment for moderate acute malnutrition to 28,000 children aged 6-59 months and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls. Assistance will include specialized nutritious food, screening, treatment and follow-up through health facilities, mobile teams and community outreach.
WFP Syria Representative and Country Director Marianne Ward said the Korean contribution would help families “meet their immediate food needs with dignity while extending critical treatment to malnourished women and children.”
South Korean Ambassador to Syria Gyusuk Geon said the initiative reflects Seoul’s commitment to supporting vulnerable Syrians and contributing to the country’s recovery and stability.
WFP says only 18 percent of Syria’s population is currently food secure, while 13.4 million people remain food insecure, including 1.6 million facing severe food insecurity or at immediate risk of it.
South Korea previously provided $10 million for the first phase of REACH, its largest contribution to WFP’s Syria response.