A Growing Global Food Aid Crisis

With guest host Jane Clayson.

Food aid to Syrian refugees suspended for lack of funds. Are conflicts overwhelming the world’s attempts to feed the hungry?

The World Food Program came out with a troubling announcement this week: it lacks the funding to continue delivering needed food aid for up to 1.7 million Syrian refugees. No more trucks or vouchers. No assurances when or if the program will restart or if the food will come. Vulnerable refugees left to face the cold winter season. Their fourth since fleeing Syria. And the crisis is exploding .There’s not enough funding—not enough food-- for refugees around the world. This hour, On Point: the global food aid crisis and what the world needs to do, now.
-- Jane Clayson

Abeer Etefa, Middle East spokeswoman for the World Food Program. (@abeeretefa)

Howard LaFranchi, diplomacy correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor.

Emelie Peine, assistant professor of international political economy at the University of Puget Sound.

Andy Baker, regional program manager for Oxfam International's Syria Crisis Response.

Christian Science Monitor: Why Are the World's Food Aid Programs Running Short of Money? -- "A shortage of funding has forced the World Food Program to suspend its food aid to more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees. But behind the dire news for displaced Syrians already facing the challenge of a harsh winter is an equally worrisome global picture for food aid programs as a whole, as crises across the Middle East and Africa overwhelm international capacity and donor largesse."

Washington Post: Lack of money at World Food Program leaves 1.7 million Syrians without aid — "A funding crisis has forced the World Food Program to suspend assistance to 1.7 million Syrian refugees, the U.N. agency announced Monday, warning that 'many families will go hungry' without the aid. The program, which provides electronic vouchers for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt to buy food at local stores, faces a $64 million shortfall, the agency said, attributing the problem to 'unfulfilled' donor commitments."

The Wall Street Journal: United Nations' Food Program Halts Aid to Syrian Refuges — "Many Syrian refugees, especially in Lebanon, where the majority of refugees reside, live in makeshift tents and camps and suffer from a lack of fuel, clean water, proper sanitation and warm clothing. The U.N. agency warned in September it was running out of funds and that cutbacks were inevitable if additional support wasn’t received."