Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, the World Food Programme (WFP) has been providing huge amounts of aid relief to refugees and displaced people in and around the war torn country. In July, WFP provided assistance to around 3.7 million people in Syria, in 13 of Syria's 14 Governorates.
WFP's goal is to deliver food assistance to the whole of Syria, reaching anyone who needs it, regardless of where they are located. WFP food distributions are going ahead despite access challenges and on-going fighting around the country. WFP is also providing assistance for more than 1.7 million refugees in neighbouring countries.
Most of WFP food shipments for Syria operations are from Turkey. WFP currently operates three feeder vessels shuttling between Mersin, on the Southern coast of Turkey, and the Syrian ports of Latakia and Tartus.
An important element of WFP’s operation is to ensure that beneficiaries receive good food in prime condition. In WFP’s drive to maintain the highest standards, NRI is supporting its inspection procedures in the Turkish supply chain from manufacturer to transporter and Dr Bruno Tran, one of NRI’s postharvest experts of the NRI Postharvest Loss Reduction Centre, has been asked by WFP to review its operations in Mersin, Turkey.
For more information: http://www.wfp.org/crisis/syria
NRI Postharvest Loss Reduction Centre: http://postharvest.nri.org/