$450 million needed to maintain food assistance in Syria in 2023 – WFP
QAMIHSLI, Syria (North Press) – The World Food Program (WFP) said on Monday that urgent $450 million will be needed to maintain emergency food assistance this year in Syria, including those who were impacted by the recent earthquake that hit the country.
“We will have to cut significantly the number of people we provide support to, and that’s going to come on top of an earthquake crisis and an economic crisis,” Voice of America (VOA) said, citing Ross Smith, WFP Deputy Country Director for Syria as saying.
The organization will have to cut 50-60 percent of 5.5 million Syrians it assists monthly if it is not assured the funds within the next two to three months, according to Smith.
“The average monthly salary in Syria, the family can afford three days’ worth of food,” Smith said.
A few days ago, WFP Executive Director, David Beasley, called for opening more crossings to facilitate life-saving aid to quake survivors in Syria, following a visit to affected areas in the country.
Beasley described the situation in northwest Syria after the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake as “a catastrophe on top of a catastrophe” following 12 years of unrelenting conflict.