WFP to Double Efforts to Secure Syrians’ Needs

A truck transporting aid from the World Food Program (File photo by Alsouria Net)
A truck transporting aid from the World Food Program (File photo by Alsouria Net)
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WFP to Double Efforts to Secure Syrians’ Needs

A truck transporting aid from the World Food Program (File photo by Alsouria Net)
A truck transporting aid from the World Food Program (File photo by Alsouria Net)

World Food Program (WFP) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Corinne Fleischer revealed on Thursday the program’s plans to double efforts to secure the Syrians' needs.

Foreign and Expatriates Minister Dr. Fayssal Mikdad discussed with Fleischer, and the accompanying delegation, developments related to food security in the region and the world, and the impact of terrorism and multifaceted international crises on the availability of foodstuffs in various regions of the world.

The meeting discussed several issues related to the WFP in Syria, and means to boost efforts in this regard, and insuring that aid is delivered without politicizing, SANA said.

Mikdad touched on the challenges facing the Syrians as a result of the inhuman unilateral coercive measures, in addition to the US practices in the northeast of Syria.

During the meeting, Mikdad stressed the need for the United Nations to play its role in halting the violations and exposing Western practices which have cost the Syrians more than $100 billion as direct and indirect losses.

Fleischer expressed her appreciation for the continuous support by the Syrian government to the WFP.



White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”