EU provides EUR 15 m in food assistance to Syria

13 / 12 / 2022

By Marwa Nassar - -

The European Union (EU) has recently contributed EUR 15 million to help scale up its assistance to over half a million people in urgent need of food assistance across Syria.

The new contribution comes at a time when food insecure families are facing a tough and dangerous winter.

“While the world is struggling with a global upsurge in food and energy prices, vulnerable families in Syria have nothing left to cope with another winter,” said Kenn Crossley, Representative and Country Director of United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Syria. “Those already having to choose food over education, medicines, winter clothing and proper accommodation, will now have to choose between food or warmth.”

“In response to record-high food prices and their dramatic impact on the lives of millions of Syrians, the EU has decided to further step-up support for food and basic needs assistance,” said European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič. “Almost 12 years into the Syria crisis, one in two Syrians are food insecure and the most vulnerable need our unwavering humanitarian support.”

This contribution will also support the continuity of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) which provides vital transport to the humanitarian community in Syria.

Over the past two years, food prices increased four times while the cost of diesel increased sevenfold. With rising inflation and stagnating incomes, families can cover less than half of their monthly food needs with an average income. As a result, Syria has the sixth highest number of food insecure people globally according to the latest ‘Hunger Hotspots’ report issued by WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).