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The Middle East was not occupied by the Axis, but Iran and Iraq was sympathetic and Lebanon and Syria were controlled by Vichy France. Much of North Africa was controlled by the Axis. Libya was an Italian colony and the Afrik Korps occupied much of Egypt as well as Libya and most of Tunisia. Algeria and Morocco was controlled by Vichy France. We do not have much information on Americn food aid to the Middle East and North Africa. The food situation in the region was not as critical as other regions because there was intense fighting for only part of the War (March 1941-May 1943) and was mostly confined to non-food producing desert areas in a small part of the region. We know the United States was active because we notive American food containers in various countries.
The United states had been active in the refion as a result of Near East Relief launched to save the Armenians being murdered by the Ottoman Turks (1910s-20s). The United states sparheaded the formation of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) (1943). UNRRA was active in the region and modst of the food it distribuuted was provided by the Americans. In addition to the local population, there was also camps set up European refugees. Some camps for Poles were set up in Iran. Most promently, the British set up several camps as part of thrir Middle East Relief and Refugee Administration (1942). The program was adminitered from offices in Cairo. The program assisted some 40,000 people (mostly Greeks, Poles, and Yugoslavs) who managed to escpe the NAZIs and Soviets. UNRRA took over the effort (1944). The refugees were cred for in camps located in Egypt, southern Palestine and Syria. Almost all of the food distribjuted by the British and UNRRA was provided by America.
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