WFP halts airdrops to Syria’s Deir Ezzor as land corridor opens

The United Nations World Food Programme, WFP, has reached formerly besieged parts of Deir Ezzor City in northeast Syria by land for the first time since May 2014. For the past year and a half, vital food and humanitarian supplies could only be delivered to trapped families in the besieged city via costly high-altitude airdrops.

According to a statement, WFP sent five trucks carrying wheat flour bags for 70,000 people in Deir Ezzor City through a route linking the governorates of Homs and Deir Ezzor via Salamiyah Road in western Syria. The wheat flour will complement food parcels provided by other humanitarian actors.

Plans are underway to commence deliveries of regular WFP food rations and ready-to-eat food over the coming days.

"Reaching Deir Ezzor City by land is a breakthrough and will allow for more sustained humanitarian access to thousands of people who have been trapped there for over three years," said Jakob Kern, WFP Country Director and Representative in Syria. "Ending the airdrop operation will also result in significant cost savings, meaning WFP will be able to provide a lifeline of food assistance to more people in Syria who are in dire need."

With the resumption of road deliveries WFP has discontinued its high-altitude airdrop operation through which it delivered food and other relief supplies by air five days a week to nearly 100,000 people living under siege. Airdrops are always a last resort, as land access is easier and a more cost-effective way of delivering food.

Since April of last year, WFP has completed 309 airdrops. Having regular land access to Deir Ezzor City will mean savings of an estimated US$37 million per year, enough to provide food assistance to an additional 200,000 people a year.