WFP Takes Part Today In Supporting Syria And The Region Conference In London
What: Syria is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis and and the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London brings together donors, host governments, aid agencies and civil society to address immediate humanitarian relief alongside longer-term needs such as jobs, education and livelihoods.
Who: Ertharin Cousin, WFP Executive Director Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and East Europe
When: Thursday, 4 February 2016
Where: London, United Kingdom
Why: The 2016 UN inter-agency appeal for the Syria crisis totaled US$7.73 billion. An additional US$1.2 billion in funding is required by affected regional governments as part of national response plans. The London conference will set itself ambitious goals on education and economic opportunities to transform the lives of refugees caught up in the Syrian crisis – and to support the countries hosting them.
In addition to the relief efforts to continue to provide food assitance to over 6 million people affected by the violence in Syria, WFP is implementing a vision for Syria that recognizes the critical role of humanitarian assistance in building a bridge towards longer-term, sustainable initiatives that support efforts to improve access to education while also opening up economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.
Secure, multi-year funding is essential to ensure the sustainability of WFP projects that support the most vulnerable Syrian refugees.
Multi-year funding is critical as this will allow WFP to implement a vision that:
1) Maintains life-saving food and nutrition interventions for the vulnerable through cash-based programmes that will evolve over time into social safety net systems;
2) Invests in people by harnessing the skills and knowledge of displaced Syrians and host communities, supporting access to education and training that can lead to jobs;
3) Restores livelihoods and creates economic opportunities in Syria and host countries through micro-credit finance that supports the start-up of small businesses and agricultural production;
4) Builds national capacities in host countries and inside Syria while devolving operations to national and local institutions and partners.
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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 further information and interview requests:
Gregory Barrow, gregory.barrow@wfp.org, +44 7968008474
Abeer Etefa, abeer.etefa@wfp.org, +201066634352