Attachments
Summary
The youth of Northwest Syria had significant malnutrition rates early this year with 9 out of 10 children not eating minimally acceptable diets. This problem worsened with humanitarian funding gaps that forced the closure of 77 health facilities, including 9 hospitals for women and children. Many more are expected to close due to the ongoing reduction of aid. The WFP estimates that $459 million is needed through December 2024 to ensure assistance reaches those most in need. To address this crisis, the funding gap needs to be addressed, and donors need to prioritize iron deficiency; maternal and child health initiatives—such as malnutrition treatment, immunization, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, and growth monitoring; safe drinking water; and nutrition education to the most vulnerable.
Risks of Malnutrition Due to Reduced Humanitarian Support in Northwest Syria
Since the onset of conflict in 2011, Syria has faced a series of devastating crises, including widespread displacement, extensive infrastructure damage, a global pandemic, a catastrophic earthquake, and severe economic collapse. These ongoing challenges, compounded by persistent violence and instability, have severely disrupted food production and distribution systems, leading to critical food insecurity.
According to OCHA, Northwest Syria has seen a significant rise in malnutrition rates, with the Global Acute Malnutrition prevalence surging to nearly five per cent in 2023, a threefold increase since 2019. Today, 9 out of 10 Syrian children are not eating minimally acceptable diets, resulting in cases of stunting and wasting. As many as 506,530 children under five across Idleb and northern Aleppo urgently need treatment for acute malnutrition, with nearly 108,000 experiencing severe wasting. The situation is further exacerbated by disease outbreaks, limited sanitation services and food shortages.
The malnutrition crisis in Syria has unfortunately worsened due to a significant decrease in international funding following the Eighth Annual Brussels Conference. In early 2024, funding dropped by 15% compared to 2023, with further declines expected in the coming years. We acknowledge and deeply appreciate the generous contributions from the international community over the years, especially from key donors like the U.S. and Germany, whose support has been crucial in providing life-saving assistance to millions of vulnerable Syrians.
Risks of Malnutrition Due to Reduced Humanitarian Support in Northwest Syria
However, the U.S., the largest donor to the WFP, reduced its contributions from $7.2 billion in 2022 to $3 billion in 2024. Germany, the second-largest donor, also decreased its funding from $1.8 billion in 2022 to $1.3 billion in 2023, and to just $127 million by early 2024.
As the crisis deepens, we urge these donors and the global community to continue their commitment to Syria. The WFP estimates that $459 million is needed through December 2024 to ensure assistance reaches those most in need.
Continued support is vital to prevent further suffering and to sustain the progress made in alleviating hunger and malnutrition in Syria.