Abu Dhabi: The UAE on Wednesday signed three agreements with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), offering Dh113.8 million in support of the world’s largest humanitarian agency’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
This assistance from UAE will benefit about 880,000 people inside and outside Syria.
The funds announced are part of an overall commitment of Dh220 million from the UAE, which was announced by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, at an international donors’ conference for Syria in Kuwait in January.
Of these funds, Dh73.4 million will be allocated to provide urgent food aid for more than 615,000 internally displaced people (IDPs), including 345,000 children and 139,000 women, inside Syria. A total of Dh22 million will help to fulfil the critical nutrition needs of 240,000 children under the age of five who are at risk of malnutrition, and pregnant and nursing women inside Syria.
The remaining Dh18.3 million is allocated to help ensure food security for more than 23,000 Syrian refugees, now residing in Al Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
Commenting on the agreements in remarks at the signing ceremony at the Ministry of International Cooperation and Development, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of International Cooperation and Development, said that WFP is playing a critical role in providing food aid for Syrians affected by the crisis. “The UAE is pleased to be able to support WFP’s efforts to respond to the plight of Syrian refugees as well as those displaced inside Syria,” said Shaikha Lubna.
Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of WFP, said that that the WFP is proud of its strategic partnership with the UAE. “We commend their generosity towards the Syrian people. This contribution demonstrates once more the UAE’s commitment to saving lives in emergencies. It means that WFP can continue to provide life-saving food assistance to thousands of families in Syria and to refugees in neighbouring countries,” said Cousin.
