Republic Of Korea Contribution Provides WFP Food Assistance For Syrian Refugees In Iraq
BAGHDAD – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of US$1.5 million from the Republic of Korea that will provide food assistance for some 30,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for two months.
“In the aftermath of conflict, the Republic of Korea was once a recipient of food assistance, including from WFP,” said Song Woong-Yeob, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Iraq. “We have now become donors and maintain a strong partnership with WFP in over 30 countries. We sincerely hope this contribution will provide much needed relief to Syrian refugees and their families in Iraq.”
This contribution will allow WFP to provide food assistance to Syrian families that have sought refuge in Iraq. Through electronic food cards that WFP provides to vulnerable people in Iraq, each family member will receive US$19 per month to purchase the food they prefer from local shops. In addition to allowing for greater choice in their diets, this programme injects cash into the local economy, which benefits shops and producers with increased demand for their products.
“Thanks to this generous and timely donation from the Republic of Korea, WFP will continue to address the underlying causes of vulnerability for Syrian refugees in Iraq, increase families’ self-reliance and reduce the need for international assistance in the future,” said Sally Haydock, WFP Representative in Iraq.
Since 2014, the Republic of Korea has provided US$4.8 million in support of WFP food assistance for Syrian refugees in Iraq.
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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.
To learn more about the Republic of Korea’s support to WFP, please visit: https://www.wfp.org/about/funding/governments/republic-korea
To learn more about WFP activities in Iraq, please visit:
www.wfp.org/countries/iraq
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
IngerMarie Venize, WFP/Baghdad, Tel. +964 780 915 0938
Jongchul Park, WFP/Seoul, Tel. +82 2 7227395, Mob. +82 10 34083062
Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +201066634352
Dina El-Kassaby, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +201015218882