COVID-19 pandemic has complicated the situation of Syrian people who have endured nine years of brutal conflict and military operations which left the country with a broken health system, families lost their incomes overnight, and food prices hit record highs.
The World Food Programme stands ready to support a COVID-19 response in Syria and works in collaboration with USAID to help alleviate the plight of Syrians and meet the nutritional needs of mothers and children.
“Syrians have endured more than they can handle,” says Corinne Fleischer, WFP’s Country Director in Syria. “Families have experienced hunger, conflict and now COVID-19 is pushing record numbers of people into poverty and food insecurity. Humanitarian needs have never been higher, and we must do everything we can to help families who have already been through too much.”
WFP considers this work more critical than ever to mitigate the impact of COVID 19 among vulnerable people in Syria. With support from the WFP, mothers and children in Aleppo and across Syria are getting the help they need to build their immune systems, stay healthy and have the best chance possible to fight off diseases.
It has adapted its operations to keep families safe. Instead of a two-week supply of nutritious food, they now receive a month’s worth, so they can come to the clinics — which implement strict guidelines — less often.
More than 302,000 mothers and children across Syria currently receive support from WFP to fight malnutrition.
The World Food Programme provides lifesaving support, monthly, to 4.8 million people across Syria, and it is able, with USAID support, to provide food and nutrition to Syrian families.
