WFP Unveils August Insights: Key Findings on Iran's Food Security Challenges

WFP Unveils August Insights: Key Findings on Iran’s Food Security Challenges

The World Food Program (WFP) has recently published an insightful report detailing its operations in Iran during August, focusing on the vital food assistance provided to vulnerable populations, including refugees. This report highlights the ongoing support for Afghan and Iraqi refugees as well as local Iranian communities, demonstrating WFP’s commitment to combating food insecurity.

In August, WFP food assistance reached an impressive 33,162 beneficiaries. This included not only Afghan and Iraqi refugees but also local Iranian teachers. The assistance comprised a staple food basket, which featured:

  • Fortified wheat flour (12 kg per person per month)
  • Vegetable oil (810 ml per person per month)

Moreover, under the cash-based transfer system, WFP adjusted its Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) values as of January, following a revision conducted in November 2024. This adjustment, confirmed by the Centre for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA), aimed to enhance the financial support for essential living costs.

In August, WFP continued to provide increased cash transfers to better support the refugees’ basic needs. The details of the cash transfers are as follows:

  • IRR 5 million (USD 7.2) for households headed by men
  • IRR 6 million (USD 8.6) for households headed by women

Additionally, WFP Iran’s school-based programs, which include school feeding and educational incentives, were temporarily suspended during the summer holidays. However, these programs are set to resume with the new academic year in October.

WFP has also taken significant steps to address specific health needs among its beneficiaries. By August, they provided additional support to 52 refugee celiac patients, offering an extra cash amount of IRR 9.7 million (approximately US$14.13) per person to help cover their gluten-free dietary requirements.

Furthermore, WFP extended its support to 388 refugees with disabilities across ten settlements in August. Each of these individuals received an additional monthly cash support of IRR 3 million (US$4.3) on top of their regular assistance. The regions benefitting from this support include:

  • Kerman
  • Lorestan
  • West Azerbaijan
  • Fars
  • Khuzestan
  • Markazi
  • Khorasan Razavi
  • Semnan

To enhance the economic resilience and self-sufficiency of refugees, WFP supported 296 refugees (42 percent women) in August through 22 income-generating initiatives across 18 settlements. These initiatives included:

  • Welding
  • Tailoring
  • Baking
  • Farming

In the past six months, more than 1.2 million undocumented Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Iran. However, approximately 35,000 registered refugees in designated settlements remain largely protected from immediate return, receiving regular assistance from WFP, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other agencies. This support is crucial as these communities continue to rely heavily on external aid for food, healthcare, and education.

In 2024, WFP provided a combination of in-kind and cash assistance to meet the food needs of over 33,000 vulnerable refugees in Iran. As a result of these efforts, approximately 70 percent of beneficiaries were able to consume food at an acceptable level, a figure that has remained stable compared to the previous year.

Since August, WFP has successfully increased the value of the cash transfer entitlement by 25 percent, a crucial adjustment aimed at alleviating the immediate economic challenges faced by refugees.

WFP has maintained a presence in Iran since 1987, primarily focusing on the food security needs of refugees, predominantly from Afghanistan. With over four decades of hosting refugees, Iran plays a significant role in providing humanitarian assistance. Nevertheless, the most vulnerable refugees residing in 20 settlements across 13 provinces face a precarious food security situation that necessitates ongoing humanitarian support from WFP.

WFP has provided food assistance, educational support, and livelihood opportunities through various means including:

  • In-kind food distributions
  • Unconditional cash transfers
  • Capacity-strengthening initiatives

Given the challenging economic conditions in Iran in recent years, Afghan refugees have faced numerous hurdles, including reduced income opportunities and diminished purchasing power. These factors have significantly impacted their food security and overall well-being, particularly among those living in settlements. In response, WFP has adapted its Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP 2023-2027) to better align with the needs of these vulnerable populations. This includes modifying cash entitlements and food rations, adjusting the number of beneficiaries, and extending the ICSP duration by two years to synchronize with the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF 2023-2027). This ensures uninterrupted assistance to those in need.

WFP is committed to implementing activities under the ICSP to sustain its support for refugees and address their growing humanitarian needs. Currently, around 35,000 of the most vulnerable documented refugees residing in 20 settlements across 13 provinces in Iran are benefiting from WFP’s food assistance initiatives.

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