WFP Unveils Insightful December Report on Iran: Key Findings and Implications
The World Food Program (WFP) has recently published a comprehensive report detailing its activities in Iran for December 2024. This report highlights the critical food assistance initiatives aimed at supporting refugees and vulnerable populations, including Afghan and Iraqi refugees and Iranian teachers. The WFP’s efforts are essential in addressing food security and enhancing the well-being of these communities during challenging times.
In December 2024, WFP’s food assistance reached an impressive 33,215 beneficiaries, which included a significant number of refugees. The organization provided a staple food basket to assist refugees, which contained:
- Fortified wheat flour: 12 kg per person per month
- Vegetable oil: 810 ml per person per month
In addition to in-kind food assistance, WFP also offered cash support to enhance the livelihoods of refugees. Each month, 7,370 Afghan and Iraqi refugee households received financial aid. In December, men-headed households received:
- 2.5 million Iranian rials (IRR): Approximately US$ 4.6 per person
Meanwhile, households led by women received a slightly higher allocation:
- 3 million Iranian rials (IRR): Approximately US$ 5.5 per person
This disparity is due to the limited employment opportunities available to women, which often results in increased food insecurity.
As winter approached, the WFP took decisive action to bolster food security. With authorization from the Centre for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants’ Affairs (CAFIA) under the Ministry of Interior, the organization doubled its cash assistance to all beneficiaries in December 2024. This additional support aimed to safeguard food security during the winter lean season and enhance the purchasing power of refugees, who often face restricted income opportunities.
The winterization top-up, equivalent to the standard cash entitlement for December, was provided to both male-headed and female-headed households, ensuring equitable support during this critical period.
WFP also focused on the nutritional needs of children. In December, 9,252 refugee school children, along with their teachers, received daily school snacks, which included:
- Milk
- Date bars
- Fortified biscuits
Furthermore, to alleviate the financial burden for those with specific dietary needs, WFP provided extra cash support to 52 refugee celiac patients, covering their gluten-free dietary requirements. Each beneficiary received an additional 7.7 million rials (US$ 14.27) as a replacement for their usual food entitlement.
WFP also made strides in enhancing income generation and resilience among refugees. In December, the organization supported 312 refugees (51 percent women and 49 percent men) by facilitating operations of 20 livelihood activities across 17 settlements. These activities included:
- Welding
- Tailoring
- Baking
- Farming
Following WFP’s Disability Inclusion Workplan 2023, a pilot initiative was implemented in two settlements, Shahid Naseri of Markazi and Mohajerin of Semnan provinces. This initiative provided refugees with disabilities a monthly cash top-up of 1.5 million rials (US$ 2.7) across nine settlements, in addition to their regular entitlements.
The organization has also expanded its reach. By December, WFP assisted an additional 10 refugees, bringing the total to 271 persons. This expansion follows the program’s growth initiated in October, which extended to various provinces, including Kerman, Lorestan, West Azarbaijan, Fars, Khuzestan, Markazi, and Semnan.
In September, WFP Iran’s Budget Revision of the Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP) was approved, resulting in adjustments to the Needs Based Plan (NBP). Due to changing circumstances, including the suspension of two planned new refugee settlements to accommodate displaced persons from Afghanistan, the following changes were made:
- Reduced the total planned number of beneficiaries: From 52,000 to 35,000.
- Extended the duration of ICSP: Now covering April 2023 to December 2027, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF).
- Increased the total ICSP budget: By USD 5.8 million, bringing it to USD 42.82 million.
The WFP remains committed to supporting Iran in hosting refugees. Maysaa Alghribawy, the new representative of WFP in Iran, emphasized the organization’s dedication to aiding Iran as one of the largest refugee-hosting countries. During a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, she highlighted the need for enhanced cooperation to effectively address humanitarian crises in the region.
Araghchi echoed the sentiment, stating, “Addressing humanitarian crises, including refugees and migrants’ crises, in West Asia requires regional and international cooperation.” This collaborative approach is essential for effectively managing the challenges faced by refugees in the region.
