UNHCR to Provide Food to Iraqi Refugees in Syria

The Associated Press reports:

The United Nations launched a food assistance program in Syria on Saturday to help thousands of Iraqi refugees who have fled to the country.

The program, sponsored by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the World Food Program, will initially benefit some 35,000 refugees from over 9,000 families, the two U.N. agencies said in a statement.

“Food will be provided to families who need it most,” said Lauren Jolles, the UNHCR representative in Syria. “This is just the beginning. We hope to include all families who are in need.”

The aid, consisting of canned food, rice and sugar, will be distributed by the Syrian Red Crescent on a monthly basis and is expected to reach 50,000 Iraqi refugees by the end of 2007, according to the statement.

Syria is home to some 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, many of whom have fled violence in their home country following the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein. Click here for the rest of the story.

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