The country director for the World Food Programme, or WFP, in Syria said: "The reduction in WFP’s assistance is driven solely by funding constraints, not by a decrease in needs. This is a critical moment for Syria. Recovery remains fragile, needs are still severe, and we are being forced to withdraw a vital safety net at a time when people need it most with serious implications for food security, social cohesion, and stability, leaving the most vulnerable of families with even fewer options to cope."
Date: 5/26
Region: Middle East & North Africa
Country: Syria
Topic: Refugees & Displacement, Food & Farming
Policy Lens: Security & Resilience
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This quote is attributed to Marianne Ward, WFP country director in Syria, as the organization's response in Syria is scaled back by 50%. Funding cuts have forced the reduction of emergency food assistance, which will only reach 650,000 out of 7.2 million people acutely food insecure in Syria in 2026. Four million people will also lose access to subsidized bread, as well as see nutrition support, livelihoods programmes, and social protection initiatives diminished.
Devex Researcher Note: Between 2024 and 2025, U.S. contributions to the WFP more than halved, from $4.45 billion to $2.06 billion. As of April 2026, the U.S. has pledged just over $538 million. The decrease in U.S. contributions thus accounts for roughly half of the total cut to WFP funds. While the U.S. reduced humanitarian contributions in Syria by $275 million between 2024 and 2025, it has actually slighty increased 2026 contributions by $49 million in relation to the previous year, surpassing Qatar, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia as the largest humanitarian donor. It is unlikely that these funds are reaching the WFP, as its 2026 funding for Syria is currently $38.1 million, more than five times less than the previous year.
Source: WFP