DAMASCUS, Syria, April 24 (UPI) -- The World Food Program said Tuesday it would increase assistance to Syria, with the goal of reaching a quarter million people by the end of the month.
An assessment led by the Syrian government and conducted by seven U.N. agencies along with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation found as many as a million people in surveyed governorates were in need of humanitarian aid.
"As the conflict continues, Syrians in areas affected by the violence are struggling to feed their families and [the World Food Program] is deeply concerned about the potential for food insecurity," said Executive Director Etharin Cousin. "The expansion of our assistance came at the request of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and we are ready to further scale up our humanitarian assistance when access permits."
A press release put out by the program Tuesday said 100,000 people a month in cities such as Homs, Hama, Idleb and Damascus have received food assistance.
