New York – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that it will allocate $7.9 million in insurance payouts to help Syria cope with one of its worst droughts in five decades.
According to Reinsurance, the funds will support vulnerable communities affected by conflict and the accelerating impact of climate change. The payout aims to provide food assistance and basic needs to around 120,000 people under a pre-planned operational framework covering Syria’s key agricultural areas.
This initiative was made possible through financial and technical backing from the United Kingdom and Germany via the Global Risk Financing Facility, in collaboration with Humanity Insured and the Insurance Development Forum.
Matthew Dupreuil, WFP’s Senior Advisor for Climate and Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance, highlighted the importance of using financial protection tools like drought insurance in conflict-affected countries to mitigate future climate shocks. He noted that overcoming challenges in this area has been possible thanks to strong international support from donors and insurance industry partners.
Read more: UN Reaffirms Commitment to Syria’s Future
Khaled Osman, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Syria, described the situation as a “livelihood crisis” that goes beyond climate impacts. Rainfall in Syria has dropped to less than half its historical average, severely damaging the agricultural sector. Many regions have lost most of their crops, and wheat production is expected to decline significantly. Livestock herds have also shrunk by around 40%.
Rising feed and irrigation costs are compounding the pressure on rural families. Osman stressed that large-scale initiatives like agricultural insurance help protect Syria’s farming future, with support from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Najat Rochdi, Deputy UN Special Envoy for Syria, reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Syria’s future. Speaking in Doha this week at a meeting on improving humanitarian and development coordination for Syria, Rochdi emphasized that the UN and the international community remain dedicated to working for a better future for Syrians.
She underlined the importance of stronger partnerships to deliver more effective and coordinated humanitarian responses inside Syria. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rochdi said the meeting also focused on localizing aid and empowering Syrian organizations to better respond to needs using the expertise of Syrians inside and outside the country.
