ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳scales up emergency food assistance in southern Syria to reach entire population of As-Sweida
Hostilities in As-Sweida and neighboring areas have triggered widespread displacement, disrupted markets, and worsened food security and humanitarian conditions. In the coming weeks, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳will distribute emergency food baskets, fortified wheat flour for bread production, and specialized nutrition products to nearly 600,000 people - the entire population of As-Sweida Governorate - and additional families in neighbouring areas. This scale-up aims to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis and maintain social cohesion at a critical time.
¡°Families in Syria have been hit by crisis after crisis which has prevented millions from being able to fully recover and reach a food secure future,¡± said Marianne Ward, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳Country Director in Syria. ¡°Food security underpins social cohesion, peace, and stability so scaling up this response now is essential to prevent this humanitarian emergency from spiraling into a broader crisis that will require longer term interventions.¡±
Bread remains a vital lifeline for Syrian families and a cornerstone of WFP¡¯s response. By supplying fortified wheat flour to bakeries, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ensures affordable bread for millions, this is a flexible approach that can be scaled up during emergencies and scaled down as conditions improve, bridging the gap between crisis response and recovery.
After more than a decade of conflict, Syria remains one of the world¡¯s largest displacement crises and continues to face immense humanitarian challenges including wildfires, drought, and the growing insecurity in the south. Over half of the population are food insecure, with approximately 3 million people projected to be severely food insecure.
Across the entire country, WFP assisted over 5.2 million people in 2025, including 3.5 million people reached monthly through a highly prioritized response plan focused on those facing the most severe food insecurity. This includes 1.2 million people reached with emergency food assistance, and 2 million people benefitting from daily, fortified bread sold at a subsidized price in Syria¡¯s most food insecure areas.
WFP¡¯s ability to keep food in the hands of families and support early recovery from shocks depends on sustained donor support. Over the next six months, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳urgently requires US$132 million to maintain emergency and resilience programmes across Syria.
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The United Nations ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ is the world¡¯s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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