1.7 Million Syrian Refugee Food Crisis Risks Regional Instability

A funding crisis at the U.N.’s World Food Program has left more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt without food vouchers as a “disastrous” winter approaches.

The program has injected about $800 million into the economies of the host countries since the conflict in Syria began three years ago.

The Guardian reports:

[A]fter finding itself unable to secure the $64m it needs to support Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries in December, the WFP announced on Monday that it was suspending the voucher scheme.

Its executive director, Ertharin Cousin, issued a blunt and urgent appeal to donors, warning the suspension would have a devastating effect on the lives of more than one and a half million people.

“[It] will endanger the health and safety of these refugees and will potentially cause further tensions, instability and insecurity in the neighbouring host countries,” said Cousin. “The suspension of WFP food assistance will be disastrous for many already suffering families.”

Read more here.

— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.