The Syrian Future Movement is following with great concern and dismay the report issued by the World Food Programme (WFP) on August 23, 2026, regarding the impact of funding shortages on its humanitarian operations in Syria. The report revealed that the financial crisis has forced the WFP to reduce food assistance and its coverage by 50%, affecting only 650,000 people out of the 1.3 million previously served.
This reduction comes at a time when approximately 13.3 million people in Syria are facing food insecurity, representing 54.5% of the total population of 24.4 million.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the WFP and its partner UN agencies and recognizes the magnitude of the funding challenges they face. However, we reiterate that reducing humanitarian aid at this critical juncture, coinciding with the nationwide suspension of bread subsidies affecting over 6 million people and leading to a more than 18% increase in bread prices, poses a direct threat to the stability of Syrian families. It exacerbates social tensions, weakens social cohesion, and increases the risk of instability during the transitional phase.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the figures in the report paint a worrying picture of the scale of accumulated humanitarian needs in Syria, which cannot be ignored or underestimated:
Worsening Food Insecurity: 13.3 million people suffer from food insecurity, while 7.1 million face acute levels of food insecurity, and approximately 15.6 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance.
We see these figures as an indication of the depth of the humanitarian crisis, which demands an urgent and sustained response, especially given the continued rise in malnutrition rates.
The impact of subsidy cuts on daily life: The suspension of the bread subsidy program, which covered more than 6 million people, led to a price increase of over 18%, further burdening vulnerable families and exacerbating social tensions.
We warn that these repercussions are not limited to the economic sphere but extend to the entire social fabric, especially given the return of more than 3.6 million people to their areas of origin since December 2024.
Program efforts despite the challenges: Despite funding shortages, the program provided assistance to 682,000 people last July, distributing 3,987 tons of food and transferring $4.9 million in cash assistance. It also supported the return of approximately 9,000 displaced people from Al-Hasakah to Afrin, provided assistance to families relocated from Al-Hol camp, and implemented 75 projects to rehabilitate bakeries and support bread production chains.
Based on its national responsibility, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Transforming relief aid into sustainable development projects: While demanding urgent funding, efforts should be made to allocate a portion of aid to development projects that bolster economic resilience. This includes supporting agricultural and food production chains, rehabilitating infrastructure, and creating job opportunities, thereby reducing long-term dependence on relief aid.
- In this context, we note that the same program is working to rehabilitate agricultural and water infrastructure, such as two pumping stations in Aleppo and Hama that provide irrigation water for tens of thousands of hectares.
- Enhancing transparency in aid distribution by ensuring that aid reaches its intended beneficiaries and combating any corruption or favoritism will strengthen donor confidence and encourage further support.
We emphasize that any shortcomings in this area will weaken Syria’s chances of securing additional funding. - Intensifying diplomatic efforts to mobilize international funding and urging the Syrian government and the international community to take immediate action to provide the $200 million requested by the World Food Programme (WFP) to restore aid to approximately 1.3 million people by the end of 2026.
Therefore, we believe that the continued funding shortfall will have catastrophic humanitarian and security repercussions for Syria and the region.
Addressing the root causes of the humanitarian crisis and emphasizing that the ultimate solution to the food crisis in Syria lies not only in relief aid but also in achieving political and security stability, lifting economic sanctions, reconstruction, and supporting the national economy to restore the country’s capacity for self-sufficiency.
The Syrian Future Movement reiterates its call to the international community and donor agencies to redouble their efforts to support the Syrian people during this critical juncture and to respond urgently to the WFP’s appeal for the necessary funding.
It reminds us that remaining silent in the face of this escalating humanitarian crisis is not an option, and that inaction will come at a heavy price in terms of lives lost and stability in Syria and the region.
The Syrian Future Movement also affirmed that the Syrian people, despite all their suffering, possess the will and ability to overcome this ordeal, but they need serious support from the international community and national policies that strengthen resilience and lay the foundations for recovery and sustainable development.
The Syrian Future Movement will remain a supporter of all efforts to alleviate the suffering of Syrians, critical of all shortcomings, and vigilant observer of all achievements, striving for a new Syria that enjoys security, stability, and dignity.
