The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it has received a €1.5 million contribution from the French government through the French Food Aid and Nutrition Initiative (IFSAN).
The contribution aims to help prevent malnutrition and strengthen government-led social protection programs in Syria.
According to the WFP, the contribution will help the most vulnerable families meet their food and nutrition needs. It will also support pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children during the first 1,000 days of their lives, a period considered critical for growth.
The funding will also help provide the evidence needed to strengthen locally led and sustainable approaches in the future to prevent stunting among children.
The French Food Aid and Nutrition Initiative (IFSAN) is an instrument of France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs that finances projects targeting populations experiencing acute food insecurity.
Launched by France in 2004, the initiative funded projects worth €122.7 million in 2025, directly benefiting more than six million people.
Similar Initiative
At the end of August, the United Nations World Food Programme and the Republic of Korea officially launched the second phase of the REACH initiative, providing $5 million in life-saving food and nutrition assistance to nearly 38,000 of the most vulnerable people across Syria over the next 12 months.
Under the initiative’s second phase, the WFP will provide monthly cash-based assistance to 10,000 people from households experiencing acute food insecurity. Families will receive either cash or shopping vouchers, allowing them to choose food that meets their needs depending on local market conditions and the availability of financial services.
The initiative will also provide life-saving nutrition support to 28,000 children between the ages of six and 59 months, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls affected by moderate acute malnutrition.
Syria Faces One of World’s Largest Food Security Crises
In a report issued on August 23, the WFP said Syria continues to face one of the world’s largest food security crises.
According to the report, published by ReliefWeb, 13.3 million people are experiencing food insecurity, including 7.1 million people facing acute food insecurity.
The WFP estimated that around 15.6 million people in Syria need assistance, while the agency is facing a severe funding shortfall.
During the first half of 2026, the WFP provided food, cash, and nutrition assistance, reaching an average of 7.4 million people, while 6.8 million people benefited in February.
However, the funding shortage forced the WFP to cut emergency food assistance by half, from 1.3 million people to 650,000, limiting the program’s coverage to seven of Syria’s 14 governorates.
In the same context, the WFP said it urgently needs $200 million by the end of 2026 to resume vital food assistance for around 1.3 million of the most vulnerable people affected by food insecurity, displacement, and economic hardship.