UN to reduce food aid for Syrian refugees in Lebanon -spokeswoman

The UN refugee agency is expected to cut food aid to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as of next month, as it struggles to help a refugee population of at least 720,000 people in the country.        
"We will have to switch to targeted assistance and reduce some of our funding, partly due to the shortfall in funds," UNHCR spokeswoman Roberta Russo told AFP.
       
"Our campaign sought $1.7 billion for Lebanon, but only 27 percent were raised," Russo said, adding that aid agencies were taking "difficult decisions" over the means to use limited aid money.       

In this regard, Russo acknowledged that the decision to reduce food assistance, which will take a toll on around 200,000 refugees, was also due to the agency's lack of funds.          

Russo added however that 72 percent of registered refugees will receive food aid, noting that the  most vulnerable will also obtain education and health services.