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Muzaffar Salman / Reuters
A boy warms himself around a fire during cold weather in Aleppo, Syria, on Jan. 5.
About 1 million Syrians are going short of food, most of them in conflict zones, due to government restrictions on aid distribution, the United Nations said on Tuesday.
The U.N.'s World Food Program is handing out rations to about 1.5 million people in Syria each month, still short of the 2.5 million deemed to be in need, WFP spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.
Bread and fuel particularly are in short supply.
The WFP is unable to step up assistance as only a handful of aid agencies are authorized to distribute relief goods in Syria, where more than 60,000 people have been killed during 21 months of conflict.
Assad defiant as rebels edge closer
"Our main partner, the (Syrian Arab) Red Crescent, is overstretched and has no more capacity to expand further," Byrs told a news briefing in Geneva.
Long lines in front of bakeries are now normal in many parts of Syria and there are reports of shortages of wheat flour in most parts of the country due to damage to mills, most of which are located in the embattled Aleppo area, she said.
PhotoBlog: On the move again as Syria refugees flee flooding
"WFP is making arrangements to import fuel for humanitarian use, to resolve the impact of a significant fuel shortage throughout the country that has been affecting the agency's ability to move food on time -- from the port to packaging facilities -- and to find trucks to dispatch food for distribution," she said.
The United Nations last month appealed for $1.5 billion to help save the millions of Syrians suffering from what it called a dramatically deteriorating humanitarian situation.
Follow Syria coverage on NBCNews.com
An estimated 4 million people in the country need urgent humanitarian aid, including an estimated 2 million displaced from their homes by fighting between the forces of President Bashar Assad and rebels trying to topple him.
The number of registered Syrian refugees has leapt from 500,000 to nearly 600,000 in the past month, U.N. figures show.
A look at the violence that has overtaken the country.
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And I'll bet the farm there's MILLIONS in this mucked-up country going hungry. Those for which some technicality puts them just out of reach of food stamps enjoyed by 47,000,000. Just like the unemployed no longer counted.
Conveniently for Obama, the unemployed, underemployed, and those that have just stopped looking for work are not accounted for but food stamp recipients are because Obama needed their vote. By the way it is now 48 million on food stamps.
UN and its agencies can't make out of us!
UN and its agencies are highly partisan, corrupt and have many looting gangsters.
They wake up when oil rich Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and other Arab League nations start dancing.
Instead of funding their Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques and inventing, funding and exporting Sunni Islamic haters and killers like al Qaida, MB, Salaffi and other label ones, let seventh century despotic, highly corrupt and bigoted Sunni rulers send monies and their seventh century desert Sunnis to help Sunni Syrian rebels.
So it will be best for us and them, as part of austerity measures, for the UN and its agencies to move their headquarters to Damascus.
All the problems like in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, and many Muslim nations are due to high dosage one-way street Islamic religion and its extremism.
Let their own government take care of them. Don't we take care of everyone else? It is about time that the u.s. stops with the buck here. Don't we have enought starving people here in the u.s.? We send money and food all over the world, but how much of it gets to the people, maybe half. Their government takes the money. And just like any government leader, they live in a beautiful mansion, have a half a dozen cars, maids and butlers out the butt. They eat royal dinners everyday, have gold plated everything. Yes, they live a beautiful life with millions in the bank and their people starve. Heck, it has been happening in the u.s. and our leaders want to give to other countries to show them how great we are, even if the government screws its own people to show off to others. This is bull. And maybe, if they stopped breeding like rabbits, it wouldn't be so back. With all these agencies collecting money, ever since I was a kid and I am 66, no one ever told these people about some form of birth control. They just keep having more and more babies to die of hunger. Some one should teach them about birth control. I just feel sorry for these people any more. I gave and gave and nothing gets better. Some one should account for all the money and food that has gone all over the world.
Don't you all feel better now about Obama getting the Nobel peace prize.
He should have gotten TWO Nobel peace prizes for all he has done to promote peace around the world.
Thank goodness Obama is going around the world spreading peace and love everywhere.
This sort of thing never happens under president Obama. Since he became president you don't have an Al Qaeda state in east Africa carved out of half of what used to be Somalia. You don't have people starving in North Korea. You don't have a bloody civil war going on in Syria with tens of thousands of dead and a million people starving or being forced into exile. No terror and chaos in Libya. No starving children in Africa. No more money for the oil rich Saudis who were in bed with Bush. The Taliban have declared peace with America and respect for women and the rule of law.
That's it, now we have Obama. Now the economy is doing just fine, and everybody can get a decent job.
No more deficits. No more atrocities and no more wars now that Obama's president...
Oh, wait...
Duqu
I like your way of thinking....
Barb210: You have your own illusions and making up stories.
Arleenuwx095
As I know you are a SPAMER and will never answer this post.....
Next time BUY the AIR YOU BREATH from the internet
Duqu: Do you want to snatch Obama's peace prize by imposing some wars for no good and real cause?
Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and other Sunni Arab League nations are most ungrateful and bakstabbing seventh century Sunni Islamic bigots.
It will better for most of us, if they go to hell soon!
Filthy rich muslim countries need to step up.
"I was a constitutional law professor, which means unlike the current president I actually respect the Constitution." - Barack Obama 2007
Prove it.
There's been millions starving in Africa for decades...anyone give a rats ass? ...not many
no one give a dam unless there is money to be made, so far theres nothing but lead copper and blood.
where is Iran, Iraq, turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and all Muslim countries, "YOUR FELLOW COUNTRYMEN ARE STARVING HELP THEM !
or is it the responsiblity of the US to take care of this ? I SAY NO ! I'm sick and tired of being shamed into sending aid to people who cant stand the US but are first in line for the free handouts !
sounds familiar even here at home !
60,000+ people dead in Syria and millions going hungry. This is horrifically sad and not necessary. I just wonder other than issuing a check, what Obama intends to do? Yah we can't get involved in every bad thing going on in the world, but we basically are the world because we are made up of every nationality, culture, religion that exists in the world. These innocent Syrians are our brothers and sisters, and they need our help. Obama's excuse for many months was he did know who the good guys were to help--how does that happen--is his team so incompetent??? I know we are strapped in America with a President that has a problem with out of control spending, but I honestly think the majority of Americans still have a heart and would not mind helping Syrians at least with food and other aid. If we don't help them, then when we need help in the future, we won't have it.
Ah, it sounds so caring. I agree with you when you say "I honestly think the majority of Americans still have a heart and would not mind helping Syrians at least with food and other aid." But I disagree with your statement that follows: "If we don't help them, then when we need help in the future, we won't have it." See, truly caring does not expect something in return. I don't think most Americans are that selfish or actually believe that Syria would send us any aid in a crisis, for any reason.
Hearts of many Americans are broken after helping ungrateful and backstabbing Islamic extremists, especially Sunni ones and getting hated more and more.
If majority of Shiites of Bahrain can tolerate a highly corrupt and despotic Sunni ruler and his gangs, why can't the majority of Sunnis tolerate a far better ruler like Assad?
If sect is so important for Sunnis, how can anyone help?
Why are Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar (this ungrateful Sunni beast can fund Hamas but not Syrians), Kuwait, UAE, Oman and other Sunni Arab League nations?
Are their business only supplying arms to Syrian rebels and funding their hate preaching and killer training seventh century Salaffi and Wahhabi mosques all over the world?
With their invention of Syrian problems and sancations on Iranian oil and manipulating oil prices higher from $40 in 2009 to more than $110, 1.5 billion dollars is just peanuts.
Let them solve the problems they have invented and WE HAVE NO ROLES.
Jonathan--Obama has generously been helping his Muslim Brotherhood buddy, Egyptian President Morsi with billions every year, so what would be the problem with helping innocent Syrians?
Coinfl--zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Barb, the US is ALWAYS there whenever there's a major catastrophe around the world. Droughts, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, etc.
Name the countries that have stepped up to help the US with our own disasters, Katrina, Sandy, midwest droughts, etc.
Short list huh?
We've given enough in charities all over the world. It's time to start taking care of our own.
@Bar210 - how in the hell has Obama been helping Morsi for years as president when he just became president 7 months ago. Go stuff a tea bag in your mouth loser. Obama is your president for the next 4 years; like it or leave.
Barb210: Sunni Syrian rebels are helped by worse Sunni Islamists killers like al Qaida, MB, Salaffi, and other Sunni Islamic haters and killers.
Many Syrians are not innocents, but most intolerant Sunni Islamic religious Nazis.
Once their jobs are done, they will start attacking us with silly excuses as with Benghazi attack.
Why not learn from past mistakes?
NO AID, NO ROLES IN SYRIA AND IRAN.
For a change, let them solve the problems they have invented!
What you are suggesting is ludicris! I was taught that 1st you take care of your own and if there's anything then you help others. What good does it do to have your own starve while you help other. If we are not healthy then we do not have the energy, stamina or means to help others.
We need to STAY OUT of ALL conflict in this part of the world. One day after we save them they will call for our heads on something else.
How many countries helped after Hurricane Sandy? Our own FEMA did not even do the job. What happened to the new FEMA workers trained in August called Obama's Army? Google them. They were trained between the ages of 17 and I think 26. They are EMTs They are trained to handle ANY disasters in the US they are federal employees. It took hundreds of thousands of $$$$ to train and equip them. They have vehicles that can go anywhere and also have guns and ammunition. Where are they?
We NEED to stop foreign aid before cutting Social Security!
odumbo won't do anything, he is too scared of russia and iran which back assad in syria. He has already said he will not do a no fly zone because syria's military is far greater with the capacity to shot down our planes.
This is horribly sad. Millions starving in Africa is horribly sad. People starving in North Korea is horribly sad. What would you have us do? I agree, if you could give the average person with means the ability to help these people, the majority would. Unfortunately you have evil people in the world who care more for their own political gain and power than they care for the people starving because of it. As long as these people exist, there will be hopeless situations such as the one described above.
The change in these countries will have to come from within... we cannot govern the world. I'm all for giving, but I believe the president when he says he doesn't know who the good guys are. Unfortunately, in many middle eastern countries there really aren't any "good guys" in the political parties fighting for power. Most are either after personal gain or on a mission to enforce their political/religious beliefs on everyone else. It isn't as simple as sending aid. Often, the people who need it aren't the ones who get it... and the majority of Americans are adamantly against going to war to make sure they do.
The boy is warming himself by a fire, all bundled up in winter clothes, while behind him a little girl walks by not looking cold at all, wearing sandals or flip-flops. I'm not saying that conditions aren't horrible there, I'm just pointing out that it's a strange picture.
Also, the two men in the background to the left look like they're each holding a tiny cup of espresso.
And rocks that burn... what a strange country.
Are you serious? When you flee your home or your home gets bombed, you take the only things on your back. If you look closer the "flip-flops" are way too big for this child so they are probably the only shoes she could find to walk in because her other shoes got destroyed. Also does the rubble surrounding this picture not tell you something?
"I'm not saying that conditions aren't horrible there, I'm just pointing out that it's a strange picture."
Like the picture that says "look at the violence that has taken over the country"
All I see is a man grabbing a kid running. And unlike the pictures of the streets in the Lybia conflict which was full of bullet casings, artillery shells, rubble and holes in buildings I see a clean street.
The caption doesn't describe the picture.
Who cares let Russia feed them.
PLEASE let the UN and it's supporters help these people and let the United States, for a change, take care of their own.
Three words: Not Our Problem
Conveniently for Russia, Sudan, Egypt and Iran -- the countries supplying the Ass(w)ad regime in Syria -- there have been no requests for FOOD, just more ammunition, SCUD missiles, RPG's and AK-47's. Ass(w)ad has plenty of food for himself and his 'followers' (those people too afraid of him to join the rebels), so his plan is to just starve the rest of the country into submission. Sounds like he has been reading the writings of both Josef Stalin and Kim Jong Il.
its Russia,china AND Iran who are helping assad
But NOT Egypt.
some E.U. Countries are saying by not helping remove that bastard assad
were EMPOERING Iran,russia AND China AND it will come back and hunt
us all..''protecting' Turkey is NOT Enough but doing more to help the stuggling
Syrians and removing Dictator Assad is a MUST the sooner the better..
Then, please, EU loudmouths...step up and take care of bid'ness! Or, STFU!!
They have nothing to do with the USA. They have NEVER helped us with anything. They are a nation of godless beings and should look to their higher power for help. America needs to stay OUT of this one. Let the EU feed, cloth and provide medical assistance for that part of the World. America has too much on its plate now and in the near (250 years) future. Help America first till it is debt free and has no internal strife, hunger or unemployment or demand an Impeachment of that idiot in the White House.
"They are a nation of godless beings and should look to their higher power for help."
Wow! You just contradicted yourself in the space of a single sentence!
I could care less about Syrians going hungry...they put those "A" holes in office now they can live with the consequences.....Damn tired of US bailing out the idiots of the world....Have any of you been to the Appalachian Mountain area's of the US in the last 50 years? We have lots of people starving there. You would be shocked at the poverty in those regions.
US meddling in the middle east is the primary reason the place is such a mess.
What would our relations with Iran be like if our CIA had not overthrown their elected president back in 1953?
What would the situation with Saudi Arabia be like if our government was not backing their corrupt dictatorship in exchange for ensuring we could buy oil with dollars?
Elmer, I have never been to the Appalachian Mountains before. I have, however heard about it... My question is: Why does such poverty still exist in such a wealthy country, such as the USA? Why aren't the people in power doing something about, such an area as Appalachian Mts? Who are the representatives? Why hasn't this been eradicated? I know why some African countries remain arm pits... The corrupt leaders... Or Haiti, it is just scary...
allah (satan) is not akhbar (great). He is the father of LIES and Comes to Steal, Kill and Destroy and he's Laughing At You, not with you followers of islam. "JESUS is The Way, The Truth and The Life and No Man Comes to The Father and One True Living God YAHWEH except by JESUS." John 14:6 Glory Be To YAHWEH and YAHSHUA (JESUS) Forever and Ever!
The U.N. is little more than a paper tiger. They scream and squawk about what's going in Syria, but they do absolutely nothing about it - because China and Russia say they can't.
And if the U.N. would help them the USA sould not.
WE HAVE NO ROLES WHAT SO EVER IN SYRIA AND IRAN.
We had enough with Iraqi wars, Afghan war and Libyan intervention.
See how these Sunni Islamists can do chest beatings when required. Usually, they take UN and its agencies for the jobs!
On a case like video on Mohammad, the very people can jump all over and do killings in Benghazi too.
There was rebellion of Shiites against the despotic and highly corrupt Sunni ruler of Bahrain.
Brave Sunni rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwaiti, UAE and other Arab League nations sent their forces and just quelled the Shiites rebellion in no time.
All of a sudden, these seventh century fountainheads of Sunni Islamic haters and killers, remembered "human rights violations" in Syria.
So the Sunni rulers of Arab League sent "human rights" group to Syria.
The head of the Saudi and their Arab League observers to Syria was a Sudanese Gen. The brave Gen was responsible for the genocides of at least 300000 Christians in Darfur!
Still House of Saud ruler and his 5000 princes and princesses and other Sunni rulers seventh century desert dances did not work.
Later they outsourced their dirty work to Turkey.
You see: Turkey is a strategic NATO ally and too much of Turkey's seventh century Islamist Erdogan's dances mean US, Britain and other NATO forces members have to pitch in.
What a way to outsource their dirty jobs to NATO forces just like Iraqi wars to save Kuwaiti, Saudi and other "oil rich" rulers!!!
Let Senator Polosi send them some food stamp cards. Or maybe she already has. Seems to be something she is really proud of.
How Ironic is it that the UN (Useless Nations) are reporting "hunger" issues in Syria??? Wasn't this the same organization whose leadership and Delegates were caught red-handed providing Arms and Cash to Saddam Hussein thru the "Oil for Food " Program, and in essence denying Iraqi children FOOD and MEDICATIONS??? Screw the UN........Corruption Superior.
This is why it is important to have at least one month worth of food stored away at all times. Economic chaos hurts.
I think we should listen to many of the Muslim countries who don't want the West being involved in their affairs.
Stop ALL support to those countries.
That would certainly help our own hungry and homeless.
Blah Blah Blah, Blah. It's all the same crap over and over. You put an article up on starving people of a war zone and retards start going off about food stamps.
Hilarious intellect. Props.
Now back to what I was going to post.. why don't they just leave the city if they are starving? I wouldnt stay in a war zone.
I'd love to see any of these people toasty warm in their homes with full bellies talking crap on their computer about food stamps living like these people in Syria. You wouldnt last a week!
Where the Hell are the HEAD LINES in our Pinko Press.... AMERICAN'S GO HUNGRY?
Let the Saudi Royals pay for the food; their paying al-Qaeda to fight in Syria to gain the territory for their growing Muslim Kingdom (Iraq, Libya, & Eqypt).
just get all the people killed or out of the country, let's see how Assad likes to rule over an empty country.
Why aren't the MEGA RICH Middle Eastern Oil Giants like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, etc selling planeloads of food and medicine? Why aren't they flying tanks and rockets to help out the Rebels(?) Freedom Fighters, why is it always on the shoulders of the UN (US) to save the world?
What about the Millions of Americans who may not be starving but going to bed hungry EVERY NIGHT? Let the ME fight it's own battles as they have been doing for thousands of years and will continue for thousands more, it's in their DNA to be at war constantly.
1 Muslim caused 60,000 deaths so far and hunger for 1 million, and yet the Arab Streets are quiet. Where's the outrage? Where are the riots? Yet someone draws a cartoon of their prophet and all hell breaks lose. Someone explain that!
Too much sand in their panties????
Assad-one shot, one kill-Game Over!
there closer to china....enjoy the pork an beans ....
a million going hungry and you want them to shopping for labtops ?
at least your showing them a good deal out of a bad hand.