World Food Programme Alarmed By Images Showing ISIS Distributing WFP Food In Syria
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is extremely concerned about images circulating on social media showing WFP food boxes bearing Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) labels. WFP is trying to verify the authenticity of the photographs, where they were taken and the circumstances surrounding this incident.
The photographs seem to have been taken in Dayr Hafr, in eastern rural Aleppo governorate about 50 kilometres from Aleppo city. WFP last reached Dayr Hafr on 5 August, 2014, through a cross-line convoy that delivered 1,700 food rations, enough to feed 8,500 people for one month.
WFP has learned that in September 2014 ISIS raided Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) warehouses in Dayr Hafr where undistributed food rations may have been stored. SARC is a partner of WFP. All areas controlled by ISIS are security hot spots, which severely limits the ability to monitor food distributions.
“WFP condemns this manipulation of desperately needed food aid inside Syria. We urge all parties to the conflict to respect humanitarian principles and allow humanitarian workers including our partners to deliver food to the most vulnerable and hungry families,” said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Emergency Regional Coordinator for the Syria crisis.
WFP has operated in Syria since the start of the crisis without interruptions, delivering assistance to more than 4 million people every month – in addition to over 1.8 million refugees in the neighbouring countries.
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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.
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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Abeer Etefa, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +2 01066634352
Dina Elkassaby, WFP/Cairo, Mob. +2 01015218882