WFP to rollback its key aid programme for millions in Syria from next year

The UN World Food Programme said it will end in January its main assistance programme across civil war-torn Syria, where over 12 million people lack regular access to sufficient food.

WFP in its latest statement on Monday said the cuts come as food insecurity is "worse than ever before" and that millions will be affected.

The agency's most recent report in September said 3.2 million Syrians benefited from its programmes.

WFP in recent years has scaled down its support in Syria and neighbouring countries that host millions of Syrians who fled the conflict, now in its 13th year.

Humanitarian agencies have struggled to draw the world’s attention back to Syria as they face donor fatigue and shrinking budgets.

In July, WFP said it had to cut assistance to almost half of the 5.5 million Syrians it supported in the country due to budget constraints.

A month later, the agency slashed cash aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan. In November, it and the UN refugee agency said they will reduce the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon receiving cash assistance by a third next year.