McDonald’s supports UN efforts to feed Syrian refugees

McDonald’s is leading a group of companies to provide assistance to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) which seeks to secure food aid for millions of Syrian refugees. Instead of donating money directly to the WFP, the fast-food franchise donated a 30-second commercial urging people to donate to the displaced families.

The assistance comes as WFP was forced to reduce food aid amid the deepening crisis in war-torn Syria, as well as the surrounding area.

The UN programme provides food for four million people inside Syria and 1.3 million refugees in neighbouring countries. However, it was forced to end such assistance this month to 360,000 Syrians taking refuge in Jordan and Lebanon because of “a bleak funding outlook”. The WFP said that the wars in Iraq and Syria, South Sudan and Yemen have created the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War.

According to CNN Money, the other companies contributing to the WFP’s efforts are Burger King, DreamWorks Animation, Facebook, Google, MasterCard, McCain Foods, Twitter, TBWA advertising and United Airlines.