WFP reaches Eastern Ghouta with desperately needed food amid crippling siege
DAMASCUS – For the first time in four months, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and humanitarian partners today reached Douma, in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta near the Syrian capital. Eastern Ghouta has endured tremendous suffering, with over 400,000 people there experiencing severe shortages of food, fuel, medicines and drinking water.
WFP today brought in food for thousands of people and specialized nutrition supplies for malnourished children. Aid workers also conducted food security, nutrition and medical assessments in Douma.
Plans are underway for another inter-agency convoy to access Eastern Ghouta this Thursday, bringing enough food and humanitarian assistance for 70,000 people.
“A humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Eastern Ghouta where raging violence has paralysed our response and our ability to reach families who desperately need help,” says Jakob Kern, WFP Representative and Country Director in Syria. “The longer Eastern Ghouta is deprived of the necessities of life, the more people will die. We appeal to all parties to allow the ongoing and safe delivery of aid to all people in need, no matter where they are.”
Key data:
• WFP today delivered wheat flour for 27,500 people, complementing ICRC rations.
• WFP today delivered nutrition supplies for 300 children.
• Recent food security analysis has revealed widespread severe malnutrition in Douma.
• WFP last reached Eastern Ghouta in February 2018 with food for some 7,200 people.
• WFP provides food assistance to 3 million people in Syria every month.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Marwa Awad, WFP/Damascus, Tel. +963 958 882 900
Dina El-Kassaby, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +2010 15218882
Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Tel. +202 2528 1730 ext. 2600, Mob. +20 1066634352