WFP delivers live-saving food to families fleeing escalation in Northeast Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in coordination with local authorities and partners, is scaling up food assistance for families displaced by the sudden escalation of events in northern Syria. Renewed insecurity across Al Hasakeh, Ain al Arab (Kobani) and surrounding areas has triggered widespread displacement, with more than 165,000 people fleeing their homes in recent days.

Within hours of their arrival in Al‑Hasakeh governorate, WFP teams delivered ready‑to‑eat rations to families who fled with nothing and are now sheltering in schools, collective centres and camps. While some families in Aleppo have begun returning following a temporary pause in fighting, needs in the northeast remain severe.

WFP is providing:

  • Ready‑to‑eat rations, date bars, nutritional supplements and food boxes to displaced families in shelters, schools and Newroz camp in Al‑Hasakeh Governorate, as well as in Ain al‑Arab (Kobani) in Aleppo Governorate
  • Recently resumed food deliveries in Al Hol camp, aiming to ensure all residents receive two months of food assistance
  • Humanitarian assistance delivered through a WFP–OCHA inter‑agency convoy on 25 January, transporting food, winterization and hygiene kits, medical supplies, diesel and essential shelter items from Aleppo to Ain al‑Arab (Kobani)

“Food security is national security. WFP will continue monitoring the situation closely and stands ready to scale up assistance as needed,” said Marianne Ward, WFP’s Country Director in Syria. “Beyond this surge in fighting, WFP remains committed to supporting the Syrian people after years of economic hardship, but urgently needs donor support to continue doing so.”

In addition to emergency food assistance, WFP provides monthly food and cash‑based transfers, livelihoods activities, and school feeding and nutrition programmes. WFP also supplies fortified flour to more than 300 bakeries across the country, enabling four million people to access subsidized fresh bread – Syria’s largest social safety net. Without additional funding, WFP will be forced to discontinue the bread subsidy project in April and scale down current food and nutrition assistance.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build pathways to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impacts of climate change.

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For more information, please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

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