A successful massive social media fundraising campaign prompted the U.N. on Tuesday to announce that it is reinstating a food program that helps feed more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees.
The U.N.'s World Food Program (WFP) suspended its electronic food voucher program in December after many donors failed to meet their commitments, according to The Associated Press.
The program, which needed $64 million in December alone, provides food to Syrians who have fled to Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, and its suspension put thousands of starving families at risk.
But now, after the #ADollarALifeline social media campaign raised $1.8 million in donations from nearly 14,000 people, private sector donors in 158 countries and donor countries, the WFP has restarted its voucher program.
"By mid-December, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt will have their electronic food vouchers - also known as e-cards - uploaded with an average amount of US$30 per family member so that they can immediately use them to buy food from local shops," the WFP said in a statement.
U.S. individuals contributed the most, followed by Canadians and Syrians.
Including contributions from governments, the WFP has raised more than $80 million to date, which will allow for food vouchers to be distributed through the end of December and into the beginning of January. The group has fed millions of Syrians inside and out of the country since the Syrian war began in 2011.
"This outpouring of support in such a short time is unprecedented," said WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin. "We're especially grateful to the many individual members of the public who reached into their own pockets to send whatever they could to help Syrian refugees who have lost everything. They showed that even as little as a dollar can make a difference."
The U.N. also announced on Tuesday that at least 28 countries have agreed to take in more than 100,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the country due to ongoing war between the Syrian government and those attempting to overthrow it, Al Jazeera reported.
The war has killed upwards of 200,000 people, forced more than 3 million to seek refuge abroad and has displaced more than 6.5 million inside the country, according to AP.
