WFP Halves Syria Aid Amid Funding Crisis, Affecting 7.2 Million

The World Food Programme (WFP) has halved emergency food assistance in Syria due to severe funding shortages, significantly impacting millions of vulnerable citizens. The number of recipients dropped from 1.3 million to 650,000 in May, with operations scaled back from fourteen to seven governorates. Additionally, the WFP halted a bread subsidy program that previously supported over 300 bakeries and provided subsidized bread to up to four million people daily. Despite signs of stabilization following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, 7.2 million Syrians remain acutely food insecure, including 1.6 million facing severe hunger. The funding crisis is largely attributed to reduced foreign aid from major donors, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, alongside cuts from other nations. The WFP states it requires $189 million between June and November to sustain and restore essential assistance. This reduction is driven solely by financial constraints rather than decreased humanitarian needs, leaving many households to reduce meal portions or skip meals entirely. The crisis also affects Syrian refugees in neighboring countries, highlighting the ongoing severe humanitarian challenges despite the easing of conflict in certain areas.