Saving Lives
in Syria
Image depicting Saving Lives in Syria
Photo: WFP/Hussam Al Saleh
Photo: WFP/Hussam Al Saleh
A country in crisis

Since violence first erupted in 2011, the crisis in Syria has become the most complicated humanitarian operation for WFP.

Eight Years of War

March 2018

The Syrian civil war enters its eighth year.

Photo: WFP/Marwa Awad

October 2017

The fall of Raqqa and the departure of ISIS.

Photo: WFP/Hussam Al Saleh

April 2017

The United States launches a military strike on a Syrian government airbase in response to a second chemical weapon attack on civilians.

December 2016

The fall of Aleppo after hundreds of government airstrikes leaves the city of roughly 4.6 million people in ruins.

April 2016

WFP begins high-altitude airdrops in Deir Ezzor, a besieged area in northeastern Syria. More than 300 airdrops saved 100,000 lives.

Photo: WFP/Photolibrary

March 2011

The Syrian civil war begins, pitting the Assad government against the rebels.

Photo: OCHA/Josephine Guerrero

More than 50 percent of the country’s population has been displaced and 3 million people rely on WFP every month for their basic needs.

  • 6.5m people don't know where their next meal is coming from
  • 1.7m children are out of school
  • 1.2m Syrians were displaced in 2018

Meeting the challenge

WFP overcomes daunting obstacles to feed Syrian families and refugees across the region. Smart, innovative solutions include iris scans, truck convoys, bakeries, and greenhouses.

Photo: WFP/Mohammad Batah
Iris scans

Cash, vouchers and e-cards can be lost, stolen, or forged, putting recipients at risk. This technology allows Syrian refugees to safely purchase food from camp supermarkets using a scan of their eye instead.

100,000

Syrian refugees in Jordan using iris scans

98%

Reduction in bank fees using blockchain

Photo: WFP/Hani Al Homsh
Truck convoys

WFP’s trucks reach hungry families in need, carrying more than 1 million pounds of lifesaving food. The trucks carry large bags of food, nutritional supplements and other supplies to hard-to-reach communities.

4,000

Number of trucks on the road monthly on average

40,000

Tons of food on trucks monthly on average

Photo: WFP/Dina El Kassaby
Bakeries

Bread is a staple food and a powerful cultural symbol in Syria. When bakeries inside eastern Aleppo were destroyed in conflict, WFP provided bundles of bread to nearly 12,000 displaced people.

14

Number of rehabilitated bakeries in Aleppo, Homs, and Da'raa

500,000

Number of fresh bread bundles for families around Aleppo city

Greenhouses

Greenhouses are being rebuilt and farmers have been provided with tomato seeds and irrigation kits, as well as with food rations to get through the lean season before their tomato harvests are complete.

15,000

Number of Syrians participating in the project

6,000

Number of jobs created from rebuilding greenhouses

Because of these efforts, the World Food Programme feeds more than 3 million people inside Syria and 1.5 million Syrian refugees each month.

Square photograph of Rewa Detailed photograph of Rewa
Photo: WFP/Hussam Al Saleh

Rewa

Rewa loves art and won her school's art design competition last year. She is able to learn in her classroom thanks to a school meal.

Detailed photograph of Rasha
Photo: WFP/Dina El-Kassaby

Rasha

3-year-old Rasha is living life as a refugee, safe from harm.

Detailed photograph of Marouf
Photo: WFP/Ellie Kealey

Marouf

Marouf can now buy fresh food for his family of six.

But there is more to be done. As of October 2018
4M people
are at risk of falling through the cracks and
6,000 people
are fleeing their homes on a daily basis

Help us realize a future beyond emergency assistance where our help is no longer needed.

Let’s build people’s knowledge, skills and resilience. Let’s invest in economic opportunities and sustainable food systems so that all Syrian families can get the nutrition they need to reach their full potential.