World Food Program calls for access to Syria to distribute food

The World Food Program (WFP) and other humanitarian organizations are calling for unmitigated access to Syria to distribute food, clean water, medical services and electricity, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said here on Friday. Navi Pillay, the top UN human rights official, warned earlier this week that Syria is teetering on the brink of a "full-blown civil war." As more and more Syrian army members defect and civil unrest begins to take the form of armed conflict, the prospect of widespread food insecurity is on the rise, Nesirky said. The WFP is concerned about Syrians' access to even the most basic food stuffs like cheese, eggs and bread, as prices skyrocket in response to foreign sanctions and transportation between regions becomes less reliable. In response, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent has teamed up with the WFP to provide food to some 22,000 people, Nesirky said. The organizations have set a goal of distributing 50,000 packs of food -- enough to last one month -- by the end of November.