July 31, 2012 - United Nations World Food Programme is responding to the immediate basic food needs of up to 185,000 Syrian refugees who have sought refuge from the violence in Syria in neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq). By meeting the immediate basic food needs of Syrian refugees in the region, the United Nations World Food Programme has three main objectives: 1) to save lives and maintain food security; 2) to protect livelihoods and to help prevent the depletion of refugees’ assets; and 3) to strengthen the capacity of partners and local authorities. With CIDA support, in Jordan, the United Nations World Food Programme will distribute food vouchers to 35,000 refugees, increasing to 70,000 during the project period, and deliver daily food rations for refugees in the transit camps. In Lebanon, the organization will provide food assistance initially to 27,000 increasing to 40,000 Syrian refugees located in the North, the Beka’a Valley and Beirut through a value-based food voucher program. In Iraq, initially family food packages will be provided to 5,000 refugees. By December, food will be distributed to 10,000 refugees through a voucher system. In Turkey, the Government of Turkey meets most of the needs of the Syrian refugee population. However, the United Nations World Food Programme will assist with a portion of the overall needs through a voucher system.
