The UN food agency says it has resumed a food voucher program for more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees that it suspended in early December, the Associated Press reports.

The World Food Program says the program — suspended because of a funding crisis — is on again because of a huge amount of support from the public and private sectors, along with donor countries.

WFP chief Ertharin Cousin said in a statement Tuesday, Dec 9, that an "unprecedented" outpouring of support helped the agency reverse a funding crisis caused because many donors failed to meet commitments.

The program provides Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt with electronic vouchers, or e-cards, to buy food in local shops. They are uploaded with an average $30 per family member.