Dubai: The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has thanked the International Humanitarian City (IHC) for its $1 million (Dh3.67 million) contribution that helped feed 30,000 Syrian refugees living in camps in Jordan during the month of January as they faced a severe snowstorm.
The donation came as part of a UAE nationwide fund-raising campaign (Tarahamou), and is in line with the directives of the His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to increase the support to those affected by the blizzards hitting the region.
“We are inspired by the UAE leadership and their generosity to help needy people around the word,” Shaima Al Zarouni, IHC CEO said, adding “Our coordination with WFP to secure food for the Syrian refugees through the voucher system enabled direct and immediate action, where time is critical in saving lives”.
“This contribution was channelled to vulnerable Syrian refugees through the WFP voucher system providing vital food assistance and saving their lives. It was also a very timely response from the IHC as our funding had reached critical levels, but fortunately the voucher system meant we could immediately channel the money to refugees in need. We are very grateful,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP’s Emergency Coordinator for the Syria Crisis.
WFP has an innovative system for the provision of emergency food assistance to Syrian refugees; instead of giving them food, WFP provides electronic vouchers that work like debit cards allowing refugees to buy the food that they need from supermarkets built inside the camps.
“The beauty of the electronic voucher system is that WFP can ensure that food assistance continues undisrupted even during unforeseen emergencies such as a the terrible snowstorm that hit the region last month, as the cards are loaded automatically with money allowing refugees to buy food items from nearby stores and to stock up during bad weather,” said Hadi.
