The United Nations' World Food Programme halted distribution of food vouchers for 360,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon due to lack of funding, a spokesman for the international program said Tuesday.

The sharp cutbacks come at a time when growing numbers of Syrians who initially found refuge in neighboring countries are trying to reach Europe. Since 2011 more than four million Syrians have fled their country's civil war, most settling in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt.

In a press conference, the WFP spokeswoman said the world must do more to support refugees in the regional host countries or face increasing migration.

The program needs $330-million to provide full assistance to the refugees and displaced Syrians until the end of the year, the spokeswoman said.

Source: MENA