The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today transferred US$9.8 million onto the electronic food assistance cards which it provides to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. This funding, from Canada, will benefit more than 310,000 people who depend entirely on humanitarian support.
“WFP is extremely grateful to the Government of Canada for this timely contribution,” said WFP Lebanon Deputy Country Director Paul Skoczylas. “The people of Canada have made a donation which represents a lifeline of hope for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable refugees during the harsh winter months.”
Around 93 percent of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon are, to some degree, food insecure. Since they cannot afford to purchase sufficient food to live healthily, WFP is providing them with assistance through electronic cards, which enable them to buy the food they need in 490 shops across the country. The same card is used by four humanitarian agencies operating in Lebanon: the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Lebanon Cash Consortium (LCC) and WFP.
“Canada continues to be committed to supporting the Republic of Lebanon and the vulnerable population due to the regional humanitarian crisis,” remarked Her Excellency Michelle Cameron, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Lebanon. “Our support to the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan, including through the provision of essential food items, through WFP, is a key part of the Government of Canada’s commitment through multi-year funding to address food insecurity within the refugee population living in Lebanon.”
