HIGHLIGHTS
WFP is expanding its relationships with food supply chain actors in the region to increase the purchasing power of vulnerable Syrian refugees and host communities whilst building the resilience of hosting countries by developing their retail sector.
In Jordan, for the first time in retail history, a scan of the human eye will be used as a payment method instead of e-cards. This is to enhance the efficiency and accountability of WFP food delivery, bolster refugees’ security over their entitlements and eliminate their wait time to receive newly-issued e-cards or replacement cards.
Rapid assessments and ongoing monitoring confirm the vital role WFP food assistance plays in stabilizing refugees’ food security in the region. Moreover, when asked prior to the steepest cuts in WFP assistance in September 2015, 46 percent of Syrians in Jordan said they would travel to Europe or back to Syria if WFP food assistance was cut.
WFP’s assistance plays a critical role in meeting the food needs of Syrian refugees. Findings from its monitoring and rapid assessments confirm that families were impacted by this year’s cuts in assistance. These results inform WFP’s programming and how it targets food assistance. In its operations, WFP is maximizing efficiencies using innovative approaches to provide Syrian and host communities with greater benefits, dignity and independence.
WFP continues to provide critical food assistance to vulnerable families in the region, in spite of funding shortages and unpredictability. In October and November, WFP reached approximately 1.5 million beneficiaries per month.