Syrian Archbishop laments suspension of food assistance: ‘We are condemned to die’

The Archbishop of Homs in war-torn Syria expressed his lament over the entire world, seemingly putting the entire country under a death sentence, after the World Food Programme (WFP) suspended its food aid to the country.

This decision, which took effect on January 1, will put more than five million Syrians who depend on the program at risk of dying of hunger.

“The Syrian people are condemned to die without being able to say a word,” said Archbishop Jacques Mourad in an interview with Vatican News.

“Why do you want to let these people die? What have we done wrong to be condemned to die?” he also said.

The WFP attributes its lack of funding to donor fatigue resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

Over the last decade, WFP said it had spent around $3 billion to provide Syria with 4.8 million metric tons of food, over $300 million in cash-based assistance, and $800 million in goods and services.

The archbishop said that this “terrible and unfair decision” of the WFP will throw the Syrian people into complete despair, especially when most families live on only one meal a day.

“We have forgotten what heating means because we cannot buy diesel or wood,” he shared. “We have forgotten what hot water is; we have forgotten what a society is. And we live in total darkness because the cities in Syria are without light.”

Despite this sad news, the WFP assured that it will continue its smaller programs supporting families affected by natural disasters and some child nutrition and livelihood support schemes for farmers.

The Catholic Church and several non-governmental organizations are also actively making humanitarian efforts in the country, but the prelate said they are insufficient.

“The Church, along with non-governmental organizations, cannot cover all the needs of the Syrian people because their financial capacity is limited,” explained Archbishop Mourad.

The archbishop said that he now hopes for the support of the European Union, which he expects to take a clear stand based on "sincere and human sensitivity.”

The civil war has been ongoing in Syria for nearly 13 years, and the country is currently dealing with the aftermath of a recent earthquake that shook its borders with Turkey.

Although the conflict in the country has subsided a bit, the UN estimates that 90% of its population still lives in poverty. Meanwhile, the illegal drug trade is growing, and the economy is in poor shape. Luke Godoy