Foodgrains Bank Commits Additional $1.5 Million for Refugees from Syria New project to supply food vouchers, nutritional supplements, and cooking utensils WINNIPEG, MB -- Thirteen thousand Syrian refugees in Lebanon will receive food vouchers through a new project committed by Canadian Foodgrains Bank. The project, valued at $1.5 million, is being led by Foodgrains Bank member Mennonite Central Committee through their partner Popular Aid for Relief and Development, with additional financial support from Emergency Relief & Development Overseas, Presbyterian World Service and Development, and the United Church of Canada. It brings the total response through the Foodgrains Bank to the crisis in Syria to $3.1 million. Conflict and violence in Syria has caused millions of people to flee their homes. Altogether, over 45,000 people affected by the Syrian crisis will receive food each month through projects supported by the Foodgrains Bank. The new project aims to meet the immediate food needs of refugees from Syria who are now living in southern Lebanon and Beirut. It will also provide special supplementary food to babies between six months and a year old, and vouchers to buy basic cooking utensils–something many need since they left their homes so quickly and they could not bring anything with them. Food Vouchers Rather than distributing food directly to people in need, the project will give food vouchers to eligible families that can then be used to buy food in the local market. “Vouchers are the right choice for this project because there is plenty of food available in the market, and it gives a sense of control back to those who are in need of assistance,” says Jim Cornelius, Executive Director of the Foodgrains Bank. While vouchers are a relatively new form of food assistance for the Foodgrains Bank, they were successfully used in past Foodgrains Bank projects, most notably in Somalia during the 2011 food crisis and famine. To ensure effective and efficient use of the vouchers, vendors close to where the refugees have settled were selected to participate in the project. This enables people to use their vouchers to shop for food at their convenience. To help guide food choices, a suggested list of food items is available at all shops where vouchers can be redeemed. The list includes things like rice, chickpeas, lentils, canned tuna, tomato paste, and milk powder. The voucher system is also being used by other organizations assisting in the area. According to Cornelius, two positive by-products of the voucher system are that it encourages a diverse diet, which is important for health and nutrition, and there is a positive effect on the local market since people are purchasing food from local shops. “In a situation like this, where refugees rely on a host community for so many things, it’s important to find ways to support the local community and economy,” he says. “Having refugees purchase food from local merchants is one way of doing that.” Supporting Nutrition for Young Children Because malnutrition is so high among babies and young children in the refugee community in southern Lebanon, the project is providing a special porridge made of wheat cereal mixed with vegetable and fruit to babies between six months and a year. “Proper nutrition is crucial for the healthy development of children,” Cornelius says. “The effects of poor nutrition during early life are largely irreversible,” To date, over 80,000 people have died as a result of the Syria crisis and 6.8 million people–a third of the population–are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. Access to basic necessities, including food, is a priority for those caught in or fleeing armed conflict. To assist people caught in the crisis, the Foodgrains Bank has launched a Syria Crisis Appeal. These projects are undertaken with financial support from the Canadian International Development Agency. Donations to help people caught in the crisis can be made online at foodgrainsbank.ca/syria_crisis_appeal.aspx, by phone at 1.800.665.0377, or by mail Box 767, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2L4. Please make a note that the donation is for the Syria Crisis Appeal.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:21:09 +0000
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