GENEVA
The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) expressed concern Tuesday about the impact of a looming drought in northwest Syria.
The drought, the result of the country's rainfall being less than half the usual average, is likely to affect Aleppo, Idleb and Hama most severely, according to WFP spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs. These are also the areas of that produce close to 50 percent of Syria's wheat.
The World Food Programme therefore needs to raise about US$40 million per week to help the people affected by the conflict in Syria and the impending drought.
The number of Syrian refugees is expected to reach 4.1 million by the end of 2014 while 6.5 million Syrians are currently displaced; the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said Monday.
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