Onset of winter, lack of aid workers threaten delivery of Syrian humanitarian aid

Jan 8 2013

Noting that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) "estimates that 25 percent of Syria's population needs humanitarian relief," Rachel Brandenburg, a U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) program officer for the Middle East, writes in a USIP blog post, "Within Syria and around its borders, residents and those who've fled the fighting face dangerous shortages of food, fuel, medical supplies, and shelter." She says the onset of winter will increase the need for shelter, clothing, and food. Brandenburg notes that two plans call for $1.5 billion in aid during the first half of 2013, but she adds aid workers are in short supply. "As of early December, only 20 international and 100 Syrian national WFP staff remained in-country to support an operation aimed at feeding 1.5 million Syrians," she says (1/3).