UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

The United Nations food agency announced on Friday it has withdrawn from nine Syrian refugee camps in Turkey due to lack of funds and called for help from international communities.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

"Unfortunately, in February, we were forced to ask the Turkish government to take over assistance in nine camps where we could not continue providing aid because we lack funds," said World Food Program spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

The United Nation World Food Program (WFP) said they had to withdraw from the camps as they were facing a $71-million shortfall for their aid program in Turkey this year.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

The UN has previously provided food aid to 220,000 refugees, but the number decreased to 154,000 last month due to lack of funds. The UN has previously provided food aid to 220,000 refugees, but the number decreased to 154,000 last month due to lack of funds. After WFP withdrew its aid, Turkey had to close the gap, which imposed more weight on Turkey.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Having accepted 1.7 million Syrian refugees in the country, Turkey has spent 4.5 billion dollars to support refugees so far while WFP has provided 700 million dollars help to Turkey.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Help from the rest of the international community remains limited to 300 million dollar.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

Touching upon the importance of food aid to Syrian refugees, the officials of the program also said that Turkey cannot carry the weight of aid on its own and called for more help from international communities to support Turkey.

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey

UN cuts food aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey