Sugar packed in bags was sought with a bidding deadline of Oct. 22.

Offers were requested in euros with cost and freight liner out terms to Syrian ports.

Shipment should be made within 120 days of the issuing of a letter of credit for the purchase.

The United Nations says Syria is facing food shortages as tens of thousands of families leave their homes due to heavy fighting and with the harvest neglected during the conflict.

 Traders said in July that the conflict in Syria is hitting the supply of sugar hard.

 The European Union, United States and other Western countries have imposed sanctions on President Bashar al-Assad's government in response to his crackdown on the revolt in the country.

While sanctions do not target food, a financing freeze has hindered Syria's ability to import foodstuffs including grain and sugar.

Escalating violence in Syria had in May slowed sugar refining to a virtual standstill.

 Despite the sanctions, Syria has resumed issuing international food tenders in September and has been able to buy.

A state agency bought 50,000 tonnes of milling wheat in an international tender for 100,000 tonnes which closed on Sept. 13.

 The country then issued another tender to purchase and import 100,000 tonnes of soft wheat of bread-making quality which closes on October 1.