As the Syrian crisis enters its tenth year, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes, and those who remain are struggling to access sufficient food and rebuild their lives.

Conflict, displacement and economic pressures are driving hunger, and Syrian families need our help more than ever.

In 2019, 1.8 million people were internally displaced – an increase of 200,000 from 2018. Conflicts in Syria’s northeast and northwest have increased levels of hunger and food insecurity as families have lost their homes, businesses and incomes. As conflicts continue, families are being pushed further into poverty and are resorting to detrimental measures – such as going into debt and eating smaller and fewer meals – to survive.

In December 2019, conflict escalated in northwest Syria and western Aleppo. Close to one million people have now been forced to flee their homes in the largest wave of displacement since the crisis began. Many are now sheltering in over-crowded camps and have left their homes on foot, taking just what they could carry. 80 percent of these displaced people are women and children who are now in need of ongoing humanitarian assistance.

WFP launched an immediate response and scaled up its ongoing humanitarian operations in the northwest and is now providing emergency food assistance to more than one million people each month through our cross-border operation from Turkey.

In addition to conflict, food prices are rapidly increasing across the country, putting pressure on families to meet their basic needs. Nationwide average food prices have increased by a staggering 67 percent in just one year, with prices in Idlib governorate in the northwest increasing by 120 percent. Eating three healthy meals per day is now beyond the reach of many.

Across Syria, WFP continues to ensure that food reaches the most vulnerable families when they need it the most.

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Close to one million people
have been displaced in northwest Syria since December 2019
4.5 million
people in Syria receives lifesaving food from WFP each month
USD $316.5 million
WFP’s funding requirement until February 2021

What the World Food Programme is doing to respond to the Syria emergency

  • Food assistance

    WFP provides lifesaving food to 4.5 million people each month across all 14 governates in Syria. This includes distributing emergency food assistance to families in northwest Syria to help them meet their immediate needs in times of crisis.

  • Resilience and livelihoods

    Livelihood and resilience projects are a core part of WFP’s humanitarian response in Syria, designed to protect and restore families’ livelihoods and food security, strengthen resilience to shocks, and help to restore local economies. These activities provide beneficiaries with the skills and infrastructure they need to become self-sufficient and take ownership of their own food needs.

  • School feeding

    Millions of Syrian children have had their educations interrupted by conflict, and WFP’s school feeding programme is helping to avoid a lost generation by providing students a powerful incentive to attend class. Each day, hundreds of thousands of children know they will receive a healthy meal or snack from WFP that will help them to concentrate, stay healthy and reach their full potential.

  • Nutrition

    WFP’s nutrition activities support pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, as well as children under 5 to prevent and address malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies. Mothers and children receive specialized nutritious food to meet their unique needs, electronic vouchers so they can purchase more diverse diets, and regular monitoring to ensure they are becoming stronger and healthier.
Funding needs 

WFP is struggling to meet the urgent food needs of more than five million displaced people in Syria and in neighbouring countries every month. Due to funding shortfalls in Syria, WFP has already been forced to reduce the calories in the food basket. Given the 2-3 months procurement lead time to have the commodities in-country ready for distribution, WFP requires US$ 197 million until November 2020.

 

Publications

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How you can help

Your donation will make a difference. Support WFP’s work to save and change the lives of families across Syria. Together we can help Syrians to access emergency assistance and rebuild their lives.
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In focus

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Partners and Donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Syria is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including: