| February 2010 - News |
| February 2010 |
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UNHCR distributes food aid to drought victims The UNHCR began distributing food rations in Syria’s north-east on January 10. The emergency food aid, being distributed in association with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), comes in response to the three-year drought which has severely affected local communities. Some 50,000 inhabitants living in the hardest-hit rural areas of Al-Shadadi, Hassakeh, Al-Malkoya, Ras Al-Ain and Qamishle were supplied with food baskets containing sugar, rice, bulgar, pasta, tomato paste and tea. “The gesture is part of the UN’s response to help those people most in need during the winter months, as well as our way of expressing solidarity with the Syrian population for generously welcoming their Iraqi brethren,” UNHCR Senior Programme Officer Ayman Gharaibeh said. Since 2007, Syria’s north-east has been suffering from the worst drought to hit the country in four decades. An estimated 1 million people have been affected, causing thousands to migrate to other regions of the country where many are now living in tented camps. The drought prompted the launch of the UN Syria Drought Appeal in 2008. A second appeal was launched in August 2009, but has received a limited response to date from the international community. |