Germany commits additional 10m euros to WFP for 2022

AMMAN — To help maintain life-saving cash assistance for refugees in Jordan, the German Federal Foreign Office has committed an additional 10 million euros to the World Food Programme (WFP) in 2022, and announced 10 million euros for 2023, according to a German embassy statement. 

A further 1.5 million euros will be provided to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in Jordan. The top ups enable WFP and UNHCR to continue supporting vulnerable refugees from Syria and other countries living in camps and communities across the Kingdom to meet their food, nutritional and basic needs.

In 2022, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated for millions of people worldwide. “The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has led to an increase in grain and commodity prices, as well as rising fuel and gas costs, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable,” the statement said.. 

To make ends meet, many refugees in Jordan rely on humanitarian support, with the global food and energy crisis adding further pressure on Jordan’s refugee population and host communities, read the statement.

German Ambassador to Jordan Bernhard Kampmann said: “We are pleased to maintain our humanitarian commitment to Jordan at a substantial level in 2022. The needs for cash assistance in Jordan are rising dramatically. Our contribution is a sign that we stand firmly alongside the Government of Jordan and our UN partner organisations.”

WFP’s Representative and Country Director to Jordan Alberto Correia Mendes said: “We would like to thank the German Federal Government and its people for their continuous support. This contribution comes at a critical time of increasing food prices compounded with funding constraints. It will ensure the continuity of WFP assistance to vulnerable refugees during the winter and Ramadan.”

UNHCR’s Representative to Jordan Dominik Bartsch said: “The global cost-of-living crisis has not spared Jordan and has clearly increased humanitarian needs of refugees in the past months. UNHCR is committed to continuing the critical support to hundreds of thousands of refugees, and we are very thankful to the Federal Republic of Germany for its steadfast support to Jordan and the refugees it generously hosts.”

Since the beginning of the Syria crisis 12 years ago, over 675,000 registered Syrian refugees have found a safe home in Jordan. In addition, Jordan hosts refugees from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and other nationalities. This year, Germany’s humanitarian assistance to Jordan in the context of the Syria crisis has so far reached a total of 87.43 million euros, including 55.35 million euros for WFP and 24.5 million euros for UNHCR, the statement said. 

In 2022, the German Government has increased its global humanitarian budget to 2.77 billion euros. This makes Germany the second largest humanitarian donor worldwide, a position it has held for many years.