UN World Food Program

WFP Response To The Syrian Refugee Crisis

Published on 04 October 2012

Syrian refugee child receiving WFP food vouchers in the Bekaa, Lebanon. "Copyright: WFP/Maria de Sojo"

The conflict in Syria has led thousands of Syrians to flee, seeking safety in neighbouring Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. Food is one of their priority needs and WFP is responding with an operation to assist refugees in all four countries. Assistance is provided through food vouchers redeemable in local shops as well as through hot meals and in-kind food packages in some communities.

AMMAN -- Since WFP’s Regional Emergency Operation started in July, the number of Syrians fleeing their country has surged. They have lost their homes, livelihoods and, in many cases, loved ones. Some arrived in refugee camps with only the clothes they were wearing. Needs continue to grow as time goes by and some refugees have now been in exile for more than a year. They have exhausted their savings and depend on humanitarian assistance. WFP is responding through a Regional Emergency Operation in the four countries. Here is an overview:

Jordan

Jordan has received tens of thousands of Syrian refugees crossing its border since March 2011 in search of a safe haven. WFP is assisting refugees through food vouchers in most of the country and through the provision of in-kind food distributions in Zaatari refugee camp and some of the transit centres hosting refugees.

SEE MORE:
Syrian Children Look For Comfort Of Normality In Refugee Camp (December 2012)
Syrian Refugees In Jordan (Video For The Media, December 2012)
Sad Memories Of Syrian Refugee At Zaatari Camp In Jordan (November 2012)
Syrian Refugees: Children's Lives In Jordan's Zaatari Camp (Photos, November 2012)
WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin Visits Syrian Refugees (Photos)

Lebanon

The conflict in Syria has led to a large number of Syrians crossing the border to neighbouring Lebanon since May 2011. Hundreds of families sought protection in northern Lebanon but over time many have also settled down in the Bekaa Valley and in the cities of Tripoli, Beirut and Saida. WFP has recently established presence in the country and immediately started assisting Syrian refugees through food vouchers throughout the country.

SEE MORE:
WFP Executive Director In Lebanon To See Syrian Refugees (November 2012)
Syrian Refugees Buy The Food They Want With Vouchers (Video)
Vouchers A Win-Win Solution For Syrian Refugees In Lebanon (Video)
Syrian Refugees In Lebanon Use Vouchers To Shop For Food (Photos)
From Food Rations To Vouchers In Tripoli, Lebanon (October 2012)

Turkey

Turkey has been extremely generous in providing assistance to Syrian refugees but as the conflict continued, the Turkish authorities expressed interest in including Syrian refugees in Turkey in the humanitarian community’s Regional Response Plan (RRP). Accordingly, WFP is complementing the Turkish Government’s assistance through an electronic voucher system benefiting initially 25,000 refugees in camps where cooking facilities are available and where they have access to local shops.

SEE MORE:

Innovating On The Front Lines: WFP Using Food E-Cards In Syrian Crises (Video)
Syrian Refugees in Turkey (Video For The Media)
WFP Assists Syrians In Turkey With Food E-Vouchers (October 2012)
Syrian Refugees Use E-Cards To Shop For Groceries (Photos)
WFP And Turkish Red Crescent Launch Food E-Card Assistance To Syrians In Turkey (October 2012)

Iraq

WFP, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Islamic Relief Worldwide, is providing food assistance to 10,000 refugees and is planning to reach up to 60,000 refugees in December 2012, through the delivery of family food packages before moving to food-voucher assistance. Preliminary findings of a joint assessment exercise in Erbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniyah indicated that Erbil would be suitable for a voucher programme for Syrian refugees including those in Domiz Camp.