Worrisome development

The UN World Food Programme just announced it can no longer provide food vouchers to the some 1.7 million Syrian refugees spread across the region because it ran out of funds.

The suspension of food coupons for Syrian refugees residing outside refugee camps is forced by the fact that donor countries have either stopped making payments to the organisation or never honoured their promises.

The move will affect some 440,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan at a time they also have to contend with the onset of winter and a host of other expenses, schools included.

Those still living in UN refugee camps will not be affected, fortunately.

The executive director of WFP said the action to needy Syrian refugees will come at a high cost to the Arab countries hosting them: “The suspension of WFP food assistance will endanger the health and safety of these refugees and will potentially cause further tension, instability and insecurity to the neighbouring host countries.”

As if more instability were needed!

The international community has been hesitant about taking clear action vis-à-vis the conflict in Syria. Its inaction has played a big role in its perpetuation, so it is greatly responsible for it and must bear its consequences, foremost of which meeting the basic needs of the Syrian refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.

The plight of Syrian refugees in Jordan will be compounded by the fact that the Kingdom can no longer offer free health care to them, a very costly endeavour that the Kingdom can hardly afford even for its own citizens.

Health authorities will continue to provide free medical treatment for communicable diseases, but that is as far as they can go.

The solution to the refugee crisis lies in the settlement of the Syrian conflict, now in its fourth year.

How much longer will the world wait before stepping in to solve the situation in Syria, with or without the consent or cooperation of the parties?

If the warring sides in the Syrian war cannot reach peace, the international community must step in, through the UN Security Council, and impose a solution.

Left on their own — regional “influences” not forgotten — they will fight until there will be nothing left of Syria.

Syria’s neighbours can do only this much. It is therefore time to sue for peace.