Food for 75,000 people to be delivered in Homs city -- WFP

GENEVA, January 16 (KUNA) -- The World Food Programm WFP said on Friday that food for 75,000 people was to be delivered to the besieged neighborhood of Al-Wa'er in Homs city.
"Following extensive negotiations among all parties to the conflict, a first convoy carrying 8,500 family food rations were delivered to the besieged neighborhood of Al Wa'er in Homs to support 42,500 civilians on 15 January", said Elisabeth Byrs, WFP Senior Communications Officer - Geneva Spokesperson.
"The remaining 6,500 family rations, which will support 32,500 people for one month, will be delivered in two additional convoys over the coming days, also delivering vital non-food items", she added.
Over the past month, the neighborhood had witnessed an intensification of shelling and heavy clashes which prevented all access for humanitarian deliveries.
In addition, as heavy snowstorms hit Syria and the region from early January, concerns grew over worsening humanitarian conditions in the besieged area, home to an estimated 250,000 residents.
Distribution of heating fuel to an orphanage started on 12 January. WFP brought 2,500 liters of heating fuel to a recently opened SOS Shelter that accommodates 27 children from different ages - the youngest is an 18 month old girl and the oldest is 13 years old.
The shelter was opened recently to anticipate the increasing number of children that lost their parents because of the ongoing conflict.
In the December 2014 distribution cycle, WFP dispatched food for 3.7 million people inside Syria. WFP plans to target 4.2 million people each month, however, weather and fuel shortages were impacting plans.
WFP is seeking USD 214.5 million for its operations in Syria and the Region. Out of this, USD 112.6 million are needed for WFP's Syria Response to meet food assistance needs for the next four months. USD 101.9 million are required for the next three months in the Region.
In 2014, WFP food assistance reached a record number of people, close to 6 million in Syria and in the region monthly (4.1 million in Syria reached in August and 1.8 million in the region reached in November). (end) ta.hs