The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) have signed a US$500,000 grant agreement to support emergency food assistance in Syria. This funding will enable WFP to scale up its operations and provide monthly support to 1.6 million people across the country. Vulnerable families will receive electronic food vouchers valued at US$65, helping them meet their daily nutritional needs for one month.
OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa met with WFP representatives during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and IMF, reaffirming the fund’s commitment to combating global hunger. This support builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between WFP and the OPEC Fund in June 2023, highlighting their ongoing collaboration in addressing food insecurity worldwide.
Syria is at a critical juncture following its political transition in December 2024 and the lifting of sanctions, offering hope for lasting peace and recovery. However, more than half of the population remains food insecure, with nearly three million people projected to be severely food insecure due to the lasting impacts of over 14 years of conflict, economic hardship, and strained public services.
WFP Syria Country Director Marianne Ward emphasized that food security is essential for sustainable peace and recovery. The OPEC Fund’s support will enable WFP to reach families most in need, including those returning home and rebuilding their lives, while simultaneously stimulating local economies and creating job opportunities.
The electronic food voucher system empowers families—particularly women—by providing choice and dignity while supporting local markets and financial systems. Beneficiaries can redeem their vouchers at more than 300 contracted retailers across Syria, injecting cash into local communities. The programme prioritizes food-insecure households, including internally displaced persons, returnees, refugees, and those at higher risk such as unaccompanied children, women-headed households, and families with young children or pregnant and breastfeeding women.
In addition to the OPEC Fund, the 2025 electronic food voucher programme is supported through grants from DG ECHO, the Republic of Korea, and Canada, ensuring comprehensive coverage and assistance for Syria’s most vulnerable populations.
