WFP Unveils Insightful September Report on Iran: Key Findings and Implications
The World Food Program (WFP) has recently unveiled its report detailing its humanitarian efforts in Iran for the month of September. This comprehensive overview highlights the organization’s ongoing commitment to assisting vulnerable populations, including Afghan and Iraqi refugees, as well as Iranian teachers.
In September, WFP’s food assistance program reached a total of 33,107 beneficiaries, providing essential support to those in need. The following are key highlights from the report:
- Refugees received a staple food basket that included fortified wheat flour (12 kg per person per month) and vegetable oil (810 ml per person per month).
- Following a revision of WFP’s Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) in November 2024, cash transfer values were adjusted, with the Centre for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) confirming these changes effective January.
- In September, WFP provided increased cash transfers to support essential living costs:
- IRR 5 million (USD 7.2) for households headed by men.
- IRR 6 million (USD 8.6) for households headed by women.
WFP Iran’s school-based programs, which include school feeding and educational incentives, were temporarily suspended during the summer holidays but are set to resume with the onset of the new academic year in October.
Additionally, WFP took significant steps to ease the financial burden for those with specific dietary needs. By September, the program supported 53 refugee celiac patients by providing an extra cash amount of IRR 9.7 million (USD 14.13) per person as a substitute for their usual food entitlement.
WFP also extended its support to 399 refugees with disabilities in September, providing additional monthly cash support of IRR 3 million (USD 4.3) to each beneficiary. This initiative has gradually expanded from two provinces to cover settlements in:
- Saveh
- Semnan
- Bani Najar
- Sarvestan
- Bezileh
- Abazar
- Rafsanjan
- Bardsir
- Jahrom
- Meybod
- Torbat-e-jam
As part of its commitment to improving the economic resilience of refugees, WFP supported 25 income-generating initiatives across 18 settlements in September, benefiting a total of 310 refugees (42 percent women). These initiatives included:
- Welding
- Tailoring
- Baking
- Farming
To strengthen food security, WFP delivered two fully equipped bakery units to the Bardsir and Rafsanjan settlements in Kerman Province, ensuring that 11,000 residents have reliable access to fresh, high-quality bread.
Currently, nearly 35,000 registered refugees reside in designated settlements, supported by WFP, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other agencies. These communities receive regular assistance and are closely coordinated with humanitarian actors. However, their dependence on external support for food, health care, and education underscores the need for sustained aid.
In 2024, WFP provided a combination of in-kind and cash assistance to address the food needs of over 33,000 vulnerable refugees in Iran. As a result, approximately 70 percent of these individuals were able to consume food at an acceptable level, a figure that has remained relatively stable compared to the previous year.
Since August, WFP has successfully increased the value of cash transfer entitlements by 25 percent, helping to alleviate some of the immediate economic challenges faced by refugees.
WFP has been active in Iran since 1987, primarily focusing on the food security needs of refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan. Iran has hosted these refugees for more than four decades, with many residing in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, often integrated with local communities. However, the most vulnerable refugees living in 20 settlements across 13 provinces continue to face precarious food security situations, necessitating ongoing humanitarian assistance from WFP.
Through its various programs, WFP provides food assistance, educational support, and livelihood opportunities to eligible refugees in these settlements. This includes in-kind food distributions, unconditional cash transfers, and capacity-strengthening initiatives.
Given the challenging economic landscape in Iran in recent years, Afghan refugees have encountered numerous difficulties, such as reduced income opportunities and diminished purchasing power, which have severely impacted their food security and overall well-being. In response, WFP has adjusted its Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP 2023-2027) to better meet these evolving needs by:
- Modifying cash entitlements and food rations.
- Adjusting the number of beneficiaries.
- Extending the duration of the ICSP by two years to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework (UNSDF 2023-2027).
This strategic approach ensures uninterrupted assistance to those who need it most. Currently, around 35,000 vulnerable documented refugees living in 20 settlements across 13 provinces in Iran are benefiting from food assistance provided by WFP.
