[Harlow:] A Syrian refugee family is calling the Vatican home. It is the first of two families that Pope Francis vow to house at the Vatican after personally requesting that parishes and families take in refugees. Nearly half a million refugees across the Mediterranean Sea and flooded into Europe. Nearly 3,000 have died just trying to make the journey. That is according to the U.N. refugee agency. The United Nations world food program has been providing assistance to millions in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt, but it is struggling to continue. Many of those refugees are now living on just 50 cents a day. Ertharin Cousin is the executive director of the world food program and her role often poster at the center of the crisis zone. She joins me now. Thank you for being with me.
[Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director, World Food Program:] Thank you so much, Poppy, for having me.
[Harlow:] You and I have spoken extensively in the past about this. Can you take us into these camps and what these refugees are going through? I think it will help people understand more why they are fleeing and risking their lives.
[Cousin:] Well, the reality of it is we have been feeding people who have been fleeing the conflict inside Syria for over four years now. And inside Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt, there are over four million refugees who have been the host of those countries, or the guests of those countries for all of that time.
[Harlow:] Yes.
[Cousin:] And throughout that period we have provided them with food assistance. This year the contributions aren't coming in, so at the level that's required. So what that means is it has forced us to reduce the amount of food assistance that we are providing people. The voucher that gives people the ability to purchase their own food, we have cut in half. And as you said, what we are giving now is an average of 50 cents per person per day. But the saddest part is that we've actually cut off 360,000 people since September. Those are people who are living in host communities in both Jordan and Lebanon. Those are people who now no longer have access to food assistance.
[Harlow:] Ertharin, you had the unique experience, you are based in Rome. And you met with the Pope. And you briefed him on the situation with Syrian refugees. What was that like?
[Cousin:] It was a humbling experience. To sit with someone who has the Grace of the Pope and explain to him and explain to him at his request what we were doing inside Syria, trying to feed four million people every month. Outside Syria, working to go feed 1.9 million people. And hearing him talk about his commitment to making hunger, the reduction, the elimination of hunger and peace part of his mission. For someone like me who spends all of their time trying to bring attention to those who the 60 million refugees who are now trying to find homes across the world, that was heartwarming. And as I said, it was gratifying and humbling. And I believe when you have the Pope on your side, we can begin to make a difference in the lives of people who require so much from us.
[Harlow:] We have also seen what this my grant crisis, refugee crisis has done in terms of politically dividing an ideologically dividing people within Europe. We heard the president of the European commission recently
[Cousin:] What's needed is peace. So that people can go home and find their opportunities back in their own country. But until there is peace, until there is opportunities, until there is safety in the places that are driving out these 60 million people, then we as a global community have a responsibility to embrace those who are refugees. That is part of the partnership that we make as a community of nations. And we cannot change that those requirements as we are seeing more people coming to the different countries, whether it's Europe or Jordan or Lebanon. Jordan and Lebanon have kept their borders open for the Syrian refugees, for over four years. Jordan now runs two shifts of schools in order to attempt to accommodate children from Syria in schools. So if we as a global community share this responsibility, we must all live up to it.
[Harlow:] You have told me before what gets you out of bed in the morning is knowing that you can make a difference. I think we all know refugees a difference. Where can people go to help, Ertharin?
[Cousin:] People can go to www.wfp.org and or any of the UN agencies. Children need education. Families need medicine. And of course people need food. But more importantly, we need to ensure that refugees from wherever they come, wherever they go, that we recognize our responsibility, and our humanity requires us to continue to serve for those who are just like us, who just want safety, security, and opportunity for their children.
[Harlow:] I think you said it very well. Humanity requires us. Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the U.N.'s world food program. Thank you so much for this and for all that you do. We appreciate it. And for all of you watching, I want you to go to CNN.comimpact, againimpact for more ways to help. We'll be right back.