DAMASCUS ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have officially launched the second phase of the ROK¨CÂ鶹ÊÓƵ REACH initiative, providing USD 5 million in life-saving food and nutrition assistance to approximately 38,000 of the most vulnerable people across Syria over the next 12 months.
ROME ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) welcomes a USD 30 million contribution from the Republic of Korea (ROK) to launch the second phase of the ROK-Â鶹ÊÓƵ REACH initiative (Responding with Emergency Assistance for Conflict-affected Households), providing emergency food and nutrition assistance to vulnerable populations affected by conflict, displacement, and economic shocks.
DAMASCUS ¨C?The?United Nations World Food?Programme?(Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has received a contribution of 2,400 metric tons of rice from the Republic of Korea, helping strengthen support to vulnerable families across Syria and reach approximately?1.2 million people?for?one month.?The?rice?has arrived at Â鶹ÊÓƵ warehouses, and distribution is already under way to ensure?assistance?reaches families most in need.?
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This is a transcript of what was said by Corinne Fleischer, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Director of Supply Chain (speaking from Rome via Zoom) ¨C to whom quoted text may be attributed ¨C at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The briefing highlighted the severe impact that conflict in the Middle East is having on Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Supply Chain operations as food deliveries to life saving operations around the world face long delays and increased costs. In the most significant disruption to humanitarian supply chains since Covid or the start of the war in Ukraine, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is warning that today¡¯s supply chain challenges are tomorrow¡¯s hunger crisis.
DAMASCUS, Syria ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), in coordination with local authorities and partners, is scaling up food assistance for families displaced by the sudden escalation of events in northern Syria. Renewed insecurity across Al Hasakeh, Ain al Arab (Kobani) and surrounding areas has triggered widespread displacement, with more than 165,000 people fleeing their homes in recent days.
Joint Statement attributable to UN Refugee Agency Director for the Middle East and North Africa Rema Jamous Imseis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edouard Beigbeder, and Â鶹ÊÓƵ Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Samer Abdeljaber
Amman - Cairo ¨C At the conclusion of a mission to Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, the Regional Directors of UNHCR, Â鶹ÊÓƵ and UNICEF pledged to strengthen their collaboration and joint responses in support of Syrians wishing to return home and those who continue to be hosted across the region.
CAIRO¨C In 2025, Germany reaffirmed its role as an indispensable partner of the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) in the Middle East and North Africa. Amid mounting global challenges and increasing pressure on international aid budgets, Germany¡¯s steadfast support enabled Â鶹ÊÓƵ to deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people in a region marked by conflict, economic instability, and extreme weather events.
DAMASCUS, Syria ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, is expanding and extending its Subsidized Bread Programme through March 2026,thanks to a generous contribution from the United States government. Beginning in January 2026, distributions will support over 300 bakeries nationwide, some of which were previously rehabilitated by Â鶹ÊÓƵ, providing daily bread assistance to more than 4 million people.
CAIRO ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) received a €3 million contribution from the European Union (EU) that will support delivering faster, more efficient, and better-coordinated humanitarian responses over the next two years across the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe (MENAEE), one of the world¡¯s most crisis-prone regions.
Conflict and violence are driving extreme hunger in six major crises
ROME ¨C A new joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the UN Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) warns that acute food insecurity is deepening in 16 hunger hotspots, which threatens to drive millions more into famine or risk of famine.
WASHINGTON D.C. ¨C On Friday, the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) signed an agreement for a US$500,000 grant to support emergency food assistance in Syria.
CAIRO, Egypt ¨C Children benefiting from national school meal programmes across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) increased by 22 percent in the past two years alone, despite conflict, economic downturn and the region¡¯s complex humanitarian landscape.
DAMASCUS, Syria ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has mounted an emergency response in southern Syria which aims to reach the entire population of As-Sweida and crisis affected families in surrounding areas with food assistance in the coming weeks. The expanded operation builds upon assistance Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been providing across As-Sweida, Dar¡¯a and Rural Damascus, following a recent surge in violence that has displaced thousands and left communities struggling to survive.
In 2024, over 295 million people across 53 countries and territories faced acute hunger¡ªan increase of almost 14 million people compared to 2023¡ª while the number of people facing catastrophic levels of hunger reached a record high
ROME ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) warned today that 58 million people risk losing life-saving assistance in the agency¡¯s 28 most critical crisis response operations unless new funding is received urgently.
ROME ¨C As global leaders and experts convene in Paris for the fourth Nutrition for Growth Summit, the UN Â鶹ÊÓƵ is calling for greater focus and action to prevent wasting - the deadliest form of malnutrition - before its life-threatening impacts are felt in children. Action before malnutrition takes hold is crucial.
CAIRO ¨C Germany provided a critical lifeline for millions across the Middle East and North Africa in 2024 contributing EUR 278.4 million to the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) to support its emergency humanitarian assistance and long-term development programmes in the region.
JERUSALEM ¨C The risk of famine will persist throughout Gaza this winter unless fighting stops and more humanitarian aid reaches families, according to a new food security assessment by experts from 16 UN agencies and NGOs. Twelve months of fighting have decimated livelihoods, drastically reduced food production and severely restricted both commercial and humanitarian supply lines, the report said.
DAMASCUS ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau appealed today for international support to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Syria which is facing an influx of people fleeing the war in Lebanon. An estimated 260,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon so far
JORDAN ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) accompanied a delegation from the Jordan branch of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) during a visit to the Zaatari refugee camp.
DAMASCUS ¨C An unprecedented funding crisis in Syria is forcing the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) to cut assistance to 2.5 million of the 5.5 million people who rely on the agency for their basic food needs. The announcement comes as the European Union gears up to host the seventh Brussels Conference on ¡°Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region¡± on Wednesday.
KUWAIT - The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) welcomed a recent contribution of US$16 million from the Government of Kuwait to support people in Syria and °Õ¨¹°ù°ì¾±²â±ð who have been worst affected by the February earthquake in the region.
JORDAN ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) in Jordan marked the successful completion of a three-month food assistance program for Syrian refugees living in camps, made possible thanks to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre's (KSrelief¡¯s) donation of US$6 million.
DAMASCUS ¨C An average monthly wage in Syria currently covers about a quarter of a family¡¯s food needs, the UN Â鶹ÊÓƵ said today, highlighting an urgent need for increased humanitarian assistance as the country grapples with the devastating impact of recent earthquakes and a 12-year-long conflict.
