Ar- Governorate, February 2018 Humanitarian Situation Overview in (HSOS)

OVERALL FINDINGS1 Coverage Ar- is located in northeast Syria. The Euphrates River flows through the governorate and TURKEY into Al-Thawrah Dam, the largest hydroelectric dam providing electricity in Syria, although years of conflict have impacted the Dam and limited its ability to generate electricity. Only approximately a quarter of the AL HASAKEH communities assessed in Ar-Raqqa reported access to the network, with the majority relying on generators ALEPPO as their main source of electricity however, Marj Al-Zuhor community reported having no electricity source. The majority of assessed communities reported that between 76-100% of pre-conflict populations remained in their communities. Only one, Debsi Afnan, reported that members of the original population left in February due to protection concerns. Of the 15 assessed communities, 12 reported a presence of IDPs, approximately 80,000 IDPs in total, the majority (70,000) of whom were residing in Al-Thawrah community. No returnees have been reported in assessed communities in the governorate since December 2017, when 1,900 individuals returned to Al-Thawrah2. However, at the height of conflict in the area in mid-2017, there were only approximately 15,000 individuals residing in Al-Thawrah community, meaning that there has been significant population movement into Al-Thawrah since conflict subsided. Additionally, Al-Thawrah is the only assessed district that reported a lack of fuel. KIs reported that residents most commonly coped with Ar-Raqqa the lack of fuel by burning furniture, agricultural or other productive assets. All of the assessed communities in Al-Thawrah district reported that pregnancy-related conditions and severe diseases affecting children under fivewere the most common health concerns in their communities in February. Of the assessed communities, 12 stated that the majority of women deliver babies at home DEIR EZ ZOR with a midwife. Additionally, four of the assessed communities in Ar-Raqqa and two in Al-Tharwah district stated that there were no health facilities available in the area. Where KIs reported that health facilities were functioning, the majority of these facilities were primary private healthcare facilities. All of the assessed communities stated that they had sufficient amounts of water to meet household needs. Four of the assessed communities, all located in Ar-Raqqa subdistrict, reported that water tasted and/or smelled bad. Communities assessed (15 of HOMS308) Subdistricts with communities assessed (7 of 10) Of the assessed communities, four reported that prices on markets were regulated and nine of the assessed communities stated that they faced no challenges in accessing sufficient amounts of food. All of the assessed communities located in Al-Thawrah district reported that households lacked resources Top 3 reported priority needs Demographics* to purchase available foods. Ten of the assessed communities stated that their most common income sources came from stable employment and remittances from outside Syria, thereby indicating a need for 1. Healthcare 440,276 people in need more sustainable livelihood opportunities in the governorate. The remaining five communities, all of which are located within Al-Thawrah district, stated that household incomes were insufficient to cover household 2. Food security 229,824 210,452 needs in February. The majority of assessed communities reported that only primary schools were Water security functioning in their communities, while most of the assessed communities in Al-Thawrah district reported 3. * Figures based on HNO 2018 population data for the also having functioning secondary and high schools. entire governorate. KEY EVENTS Water and electricity services An estimated 34,000 people Rate of return to Ar Raqqa City Offensive to capture Ar-Raqqa Approximately 20,000 civilians Battle to capture Ar-Raqqa City mostly unavailable in the first return to Ar-Raqqa City and stands at approximately 700 city begins, triggering large-scale return to the Ar-Raqqa City, ends4. three Raqqa neighbourhoods nearby areas, despite continued households per day across displacement3. despite continued safety threats8. deemed safe for returns5. threats from explosive remnants6. neighbourhoods7.

6 June October 17 November onward Early December January 2018 February Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

Governorate areas of influence:

Area of influence TURKEY Sourced from Live UA Map, 28 February 2018

Opposition - Free Syrian Army (FSA) AL HASAKEH Opposition - Free Syrian Army ALEPPO (Olive Branch/Idleb Shield)

Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - (SDF-coalition) Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)

ISIL-affiliated groups

Ar-Raqqa Assessed Community City

DEIR EZ ZOR

2 Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

DISPLACEMENT Estimated percent of pre-conflict population (PCP) displaced from community:

Estimated number of IDP arrivals 0 in assessed communities in February. 0 Estimated number of spontaneous returns in assessed communities ALEPPO in February2.

Communities with the largest estimated number of IDP arrivals: No reported IDP arrivals

Ar-Raqqa Top 3 subdistricts of origin of most IDPs arrivals3,4: No reported IDP arrivals

DEIR EZ ZOR

14 communities reported no PCP departures. Top 3 reasons for PCP displacement in the remaining 1 assessed community3,4:

Estimated % of pre-conflict population displaced Protection concerns 100% from community Subdistrict with one or more assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month No further PCP departures reported 0-24% 25-49% 75-100% 50-74% Subdistrict with no assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month

3 Multiple choices allowed. 3 4 By percent of communities reporting. Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

SHELTER AND NFI Fuel sufficiency:

Primary source of electricity 10 communities reported no lack of fuel. Most reported:4 common strategies to cope with a lack of fuel in the remaining 5 assessed communities3,4: 67% Generator 100+60+++ Burning furniture not in use 100% 27% Network Burning productive assets 60% 6% No source

67+276+0+0+A Ar-Raqqa

Governorate average reported rent price in Syrian Pounds (SYP) across 3,375 SYP assessed communities.5 6,319 SYP Syrian average reported rent price in SYP across assessed communities.5

Most commonly reported shelter type for PCP (in red) and IDP (in grey) households4: 93+

Independent apartment/ house 42 93% Insufficient fuel reported Subdistrict with assessed communities

+7+ 42% Sufficient fuel reported Subdistrict with no assessed communities Tent 25+ 7% Governorate capital

0+ 25%

Shared apartment/ house 25 0% Reported fuel prices (in SYP)5:

+0+ 25%

Unfinished apartment/ house 8 0% Governorate average Governorate average Syrian average price

+0+ 8% Fuel type: price in February: price in January: in February:

0 Coal (1 kilogram) 431 483 345 +0+ Diesel (1 litre) 146 111 321 0 Butane (1 canister) 3,273 4,450 6,997 +0+

0 Firewood (1 tonne) 5,500 5,167 64,533

3 Multiple choices allowed. 4 4 By percent of communities reporting. 5 1 USD = 434 SYP (UN operational rates of exchange as of 1 March 2018) Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

HEALTH Presence of health facilities in assessed communities:

5 Communities reported that no assessed medical items were available in their community. Communities reported that the majority of women did not have access to formal health facilities 12 to give birth.

7 communities reported that residents experienced no barriers to accessing healthcare services. The barriers in the remaining 8 assessed communities were3,4: 75+25++++++ No health facilities available in the area 75% Ar-Raqqa Healthcare services too expensive 25%

No health facilities reportedly available in area Subdistrict with assessed communities Health facilities reportedly available in area Governorate capital Subdistrict with no assessed communities

15 communities reported that residents were not using coping strategies to deal Top 3 most needed healthcare Top 3 most common health 3,4 with a lack of medical supplies . services reported3,4: problems reported3,4:

++ Antenatal care 73% Communicable diseases 67%

Surgical care 60% Skin diseases 53%

Assistive devices 53% Chronic diseases 33%

3 Multiple choices allowed. 5 4 By percent of communities reporting. Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

WASH Water sufficiency for household needs:

4 Communities reported that water from their primary source tasted and/or smelled bad. 0 Communities reported that drinking water from their primary source made people sick.

15 communities reported that residents had no problems with latrines3,4. +++++++

Ar-Raqqa

Water in one or more assessed communities in subdistrict Insufficient water reported reportedly tastes/smells bad or makes people sick Sufficient water reported Governorate capital Water is reportedly fine to drink in all assessed 15 communities reported that they had sufficient amounts of water to meet communities in subdistrict household needs3,4. Primary drinking water source reported4: Top 3 reported methods of ++++ garbage disposal3,4: 60% Network 40% Water trucking Private paid collection 33% Buried or burned 20% 60+40+0+0+0+A Disposed at designated site 20%

3 Multiple choices allowed. 6 4 By percent of communities reporting. Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

FOOD SECURITY Food sufficiency:

0 Communities reported not having received a food distribution in the last 12 months. 0 Communities reported that residents were unable to purchase food at shops and markets.

9 communities reported that residents experienced no challenges in accessing food. The most common difficulties experienced in the remaining 6 assessed communities were3,4: 100++++++ Lack of resources to buy food 100% Ar-Raqqa

Insufficient food reported Governorate capital Somewhat sufficient food reported Subdistrict with assessed communities Sufficient food reported Subdistrict with no assessed communities Core food item prices reported (in SYP)5:

Governorate average Governorate average Syrian average Food item: price in February: price in January: price in February: Most common ways of obtaining food reported3,4: 100+47+40+7+0 Bread public bakery (1 loaf) 111 100 117 Purchased 100% Rice (1 kilogram) 450 475 466 Own production 47% Lentils (1 kilogram) 370 338 351 Food distributions 40% Sugar (1 kilogram) 304 299 315 Received from others 7% Cooking oil (1 litre) 487 478 584

3 Multiple choices allowed. 7 4 By percent of communities reporting. 5 1 USD = 434 SYP (UN operational rates of exchange as of 1 March 2018) Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

LIVELIHOODS EDUCATION Barriers to accessing education services: 50,000 - 100,000 SYP Most commonly reported household income range5. 25,404 SYP Governorate average food basket price5,6.

Communities reported that residents used exteme food- 0 based coping strategies to deal with insufficient income7.

10 communities reported that residents had enough income to cover household Ar-Raqqa needs. The most commonly reported coping strategies to deal with a lack of income in the remaining 5 assessed communities were3,4: 100++++ Borrow money from family/ friends 100%

Barriers to accessing education reported Schools in one or more assessed communities No barriers to accessing education in subdistrict reportedly destroyed reported No schools in assessed communities in Governorate capital subdistrict reportedly destroyed

Most commonly reported main sources of income3,4: 7 communities reported that most children were able to access education. 87+80+47+33+13 The most commonly reported barriers to education in the remaining 8 Stable/ salaried employment 87% assessed communities were3,4: 75+38+25+13+ Remittances 80% Lack of school supplies 75% Business or trade 47% Lack of teaching staff 38% Farm ownership 33% Destruction of facilities 25% Humanitarian non-cash items 13% Services are too far 13%

3 Multiple choices allowed. 6 Calculation of the average price of a food basket is based on the World Food Programme’s standard basket of dry goods. The food basket includes 37 kg of bread, 19 kg of rice, 19 kg of lentils, 5 kg of sugar, and 7 kg of 8 4 By percent of communities reporting. vegetable oil, and provides 1,930 kcal a day for a family of five for a month. 5 1 USD = 434 SYP (UN operational rates of exchange as of 1 March 2018) 7 Extreme food-based strategies: Eating food waste; eating non-edible plants and spending days without eating. Ar-Raqqa Governorate, February 2018

METHODOLOGY ENDNOTES

1 All information and figures reported in HSOS factsheets refer to the situation in assessed communities The HSOS project, formerly known as the AoO (Area of Origin) project, is a monthly assessment and cannot be generalised to other non-assessed communities of the governorate. that aims to provide comprehensive, multi-sectoral information about the humanitarian situation 2 inside Syria. This factsheet presents information gathered in 15 communities in March 2018, Returns are not necessarily voluntary, safe, or sustainable. referring to the situation in Ar-Raqqa Governorate in February 2018. It presents key indicators, 3 Aljazeera. (6 June 2017). SDF launch major offensive to capture ISIL-held Raqqa. Retrieved from rather than the entire range of indicators gathered in the HSOS questionnaire. For community- http://www.aljazeera.com. level data on assessed subdistricts in Al Hasakeh, Dar’a, Idleb, Rural Damascus and Quneitra, 4 Sen. (18 October 2017). After the Battle for Raqqa, Now Comes the Hard Part. News Deeply. please refer to the monthly subdistrict factsheets, available on the REACH Resource Centre. The Retrieved from https://www.newsdeeply.com/syria. complete HSOS dataset is disseminated monthly via the REACH Syria mailing list. 5 Edwards and Hamou. (22 November 2017). Raqqa returnees await water, utilities as civil council Wherever possible, information was collected through an enumerator network. REACH enumerators announces eastern neighborhoods ‘safe’ from landmines. Retrieved from http://syriadirect.org. are based inside Syria and interview Key Informants (KIs) directly in the community they report 6 UNHCR (6 December 2017). Syria: Flash update on recent events - 6 December 2017. Retrieved about. Where access and security constraints rendered direct data collection unfeasible, KI from https://reliefweb.int. interviews were conducted indirectly through participants identified in camps and settlements in 7 World Food Programme (31 January 2018). Syria: Ar-Raqqa City Assessment - January 2018 Food neighbouring countries by REACH field teams. Participants contact KIs in their community in Syria Security Update. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int. to collect information about their community. KIs were asked to report at the community level. 8United Nations Security Council (20 March 2018). S/2018/243. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int. A minimum of three KIs were interviewed per community to enhance data accuracy. KIs generally included local council members, Syrian NGO workers, medical professionals, teachers, shop owners and farmers, among others, and were chosen based on their community-level or sector specific knowledge. In cases where KIs disagreed on a certain piece of information, enumerators triangulated the data with secondary sources or selected the response provided by the KI with About REACH the more relevant sector-specific background. For each question asked, confidence levels were REACH is a joint initiative of two international non-governmental organisations - ACTED and assigned based on the KIs area of expertise and knowledge of the sector-specific situation. IMPACT Initiatives - and the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT). The confidence levels associated with each question are presented in the final dataset. The full REACH aims to strengthen evidence-based decision making by aid actors through efficient confidence matrix used to assign confidence levels is available upon request. data collection, management and analysis before, during and after an emergency. By doing so, Findings were triangulated through secondary sources, including news monitoring and humanitarian REACH contributes to ensuring that communities affected by emergencies receive the support reports. Where necessary, follow-up was conducted with enumerators and participants. Findings they need. All REACH activities are conducted in support to, and within the framework of, inter- agency aid coordination mechanisms. For more information, please visit our website: www.reach- are indicative rather than representative, and should not be generalised across the governorate. initiative.org. You can contact us directly at: [email protected] and follow us on Twitter: @REACH_info.

9