Lack of funds forces World Food Program to stop aid for 1.7 million Syrian refugees
The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) has stopped giving food vouchers to 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt, due to a lack of funds.
"Without WFP vouchers, many families will go hungry," the WFP said in a statement. "For refugees already struggling to survive the harsh winter, the consequences of halting this assistance will be devastating."
The WFP would need $64 million to support the refugees through the end of December. The WFP said its Syria emergency operations are "in critical need of funding" for refugees, many of whom lack access to winter clothing.
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The voucher program has already given $800 million for refugees to get food at local stores in countries that border Syria. The program will resume immediately if the WFP receives new funding in December. The WFP has already cut its rations for 4.25 million people in Syria.
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Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
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