UN food agency says funding target met for Syrian refugees

Rome: The UN food agency said Monday an "unprecedented response" to its fundraising campaign meant it could fully reinstate its food assistance to Syrian refugees.

The pledges, worth $675 million (620 million euros), will enable food assistance for refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt from March until the end of the year, the World Food Programme (WFP) said.

"The unprecedented response... will help save the lives of the most vulnerable people in Syria and the region," it said, adding that the funds would also cover increased school meals and activities that will "help restore hope for a better future for the millions of people affected by the crisis."

Executive director Ertharin Cousin said it meant "we are able to fully meet the immediate basic food assistance needs of 1.8 million refugees in the region and 4.5 million Syrians inside the country who rely on WFP assistance every day."