UNRWA Weekly Syria Crisis Report, 15 July 2013 REGIONAL OVERVIEW Conflict is increasingly encroaching on UNRWA camps with shelling and clashes continuing to take place near to and within a number of camps. A reported 8 Palestine Refugees (PR) were killed in Syria this week as a result including 1 UNRWA staff member, highlighting their unique vulnerability, with refugee camps often theatres of war. At least 44,000 PR homes have been damaged by conflict and over 50% of all registered PR are now displaced, either within Syria or to neighbouring countries. Approximately 235,000 refugees are displaced in Syria with over 200,000 in Damascus, around 6600 in Aleppo, 4500 in Latakia, 3050 in Hama, 6400 in Homs and 13,100 in Dera’a. 71,000 PR from Syria (PRS) have approached UNRWA for assistance in Lebanon and 8057 (+120 from last week) in Jordan. UNRWA tracks reports of PRS in Egypt, Turkey, Gaza and UNHCR reports up to 1000 fled to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. 1. SYRIA Displacement UNRWA is sheltering over 8317 Syrians (+157 from last week) in 19 Agency facilities with a near identical increase with the previous week. Of this 6986 (84%, +132 from last week and nearly triple the increase of the previous week) are PR (see table 1). This follows a fairly constant trend since April ranging from 8005 to a high of 8400 in May. The number of IDPs in UNRWA facilities has not varied greatly since the beginning of the year with the lowest figure 7571 recorded in early January. A further 4294 PR (+75 from last week whereas the week before was ‐3) are being sheltered in 10 non‐ UNRWA facilities in Aleppo, Latakia and Damascus. Nearly 18,000 PR have also been identified or approached UNRWA in different camps having fled from other areas in Syria (unchanged from last week) including: 3004 in Hama Camp from Yarmouk and Ein El Tal; 6420 in Homs Camp having fled Aleppo, Damascus and Homs countryside; and 4318 in Latakia camp having fled from Yarmouk and Ein El Tal. The Agency continues to provide regular food, NFI and health assistance to registered and known PR if they have approached the Agency whether they are in UNRWA or non‐UNRWA facilities. Displaced Palestine refugee family sheltered in UNRWA Haifa School Situation summary 1 UNRWA staff member, Muhannad Ashmawi, School Attendant in Kufr Sabt School in Yarmouk camp and 6 PR were killed in Yarmouk camp as a result of shelling, 1 allegedly by a sniper; 1 PR killed near Qabr Essit as the result of shelling. 1 UNRWA staff member detained early week in Damascus area. Mortars allegedly fired by armed opposition elements impacted in Yarmouk camp and clashes took place in the camp one night; some shells impacted but did not detonate in Homs camp. Firefight in Ramadan camp Friday‐Saturday night allegedly after armed opposition elements ambushed a checkpoint at the entrance to the camp then retreated through the camp. IEDs in Damascus on Monday and Tuesday; and 2 VBIEDs in HOMS. Sunday UNRWA staff and good were permitted to enter Aleppo from Damascus with a UN interagency mission after all entrances to the city were closed for a week. Area and Field Offices in Damascus operational all week with most staff attending. 7 UNRWA staff members have been killed in the conflict and 13 UNRWA staff are being detained or have been reported missing. 20 vehicles stolen and still not accounted for. 2. Humanitarian Response Syria Education Around 26,000 out of 67,000 PR students are being reached. 49 out of 118 UNRWA schools are operational with many PR students also enrolled in government schools; Self‐learning materials being developed for students out not able to attend school; Psycho‐social support courses for 75 staff. 35 psycho‐social counselors being recruited; Summer education classes ongoing for grades 1‐8 with 5300 PR students; Education activities for displaced refugees in UNRWA school housing IDPs, Jaramana camp, Damascus Agreement with Government to use 20 government buildings as schools in safer areas; 79% of eligible students recently enrolled for Grade 9 examinations; 2 Relocated students in grades 9 & 12 from Yarmouk, Neirab and Ein El Tal camps to safer places to prepare for and take the government exams. UNRWA provided accommodation, food, hygiene kits and assistance for preparation including psycho‐social support; Vocational short courses being prepared for Aleppo and Damascus in a range of fields with such courses ongoing in Dera’a, Hama, Homs and Latakia. Youth engagement activities being extended. Health Health centres: a number resupplied access challenges. Five health centres fully operational and one partially in Damascus area; Homs HC re‐open; Health points: 4 working regularly; 1 being expanded and 2 more being opened; Medical supplies: stock received for next 12 months of which 4 months distributed to each area except Aleppo due to the situation there. Waiting for next humanitarian convoy to the city; Hospitalisation: started reimbursements of non‐contracted hospital bills and arranged for all PR in Syria to access health centres anywhere; Surveillance of infectious diseases: No outbreaks reported, vaccination working well, ongoing close cooperation with WHO and PRC; and An increase in rates of psycho‐social trauma, stress/anxiety disorders reported. Relief Cash assistance: 2nd round distribution ongoing targeting 420,000 persons with USD42 per person; 71,000 so far received since June; Preparing plan for future cash distributions through multiple mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce risks to beneficiaries and staff; Displaced refugees wait to receive cash assistance at UNRWA distribution centre, Damascus Food distributions: Dera’a (3000 persons) and Damascus/Rif Damascus (22000 persons); food basket distribution in 3 locations in Damascus/ Rif Damascus with additional 3 distribution points being prepared to open in 2 weeks; Tendering for local food procurement in Aleppo; 3 IDPs: Continuing to provide 2 meals per day (one cooked) to over 12,200 IDPs in 28 temporary collective shelters; tendering for iftar dinner for these; WATSAN and living conditions upgrades for the temporary collective shelters; Refugee families receiving food in an UNRWA shelter in Damascus NFI distributions: As of 7 July, UNRWA has distributed food, mattresses, blankets and a variety of other essential non‐food items to 215,317 individuals in 2013; and cash to 58,054 families. Continuing work with Iraqi PR in Syria including regular counselling and visits in cooperation with UNHCR and their local partners. UNRWA food and cash distributions in Syria in 2013 cumulative as of 7 July 2013 UNRWA Food and Cash Distribution (cumulative since March 2011) 450000 400000 350000 300000 250000 200000 Distributed 150000 100000 Units 50000 0 Februar January March April May June July y Canned food 2154 2,154 140046 198601 313517 421058 421058 Food parcels 20333 24873 32423 38889 45008 54186 57437 Cash (families) 54018 73560 87839 100934 112072 112072 112072 UNRWA distributions in Syria in 2013 by location and type as of 7 July 2013 UNRWA Distribution by Location 2013 70000 60000 50000 40000 4 30000 20000 10000 LEBANON Over 71,000 Palestine Refugees from Syria (PRS) have approached UNRWA for assistance in Lebanon. They are located in Saida (31%), Beqaa (21%), the Beirut area (17%), Tyre (17%) and the north (14%). Collective shelters: UNRWA has assisted with the rehabilitation of 11 collective shelters providing housing to 88 families; 4 shelters in Saida, 6 in Tyre and one in Central Lebanon. 7 other requests are under assessment. Environmental Health: UNRWA has recruited more sanitation workers and increased support for water networks in coordination with Popular Committees across the camps. Education: Summer learning classes for PRS who have been out of school during the school year, scheduled to run until September. Emergency education programme for PRS ongoing including recruitment of 14 psychosocial counselors. Health: Continue to deliver medical consultations and medications through UNRWAs 28 health centres. Health awareness sessions conducted during the PRS cash distribution in June and staff attended a health training workshop. Protection: Monitoring and reporting officer stationed at border crossing to offer advice to PRS when they cross and report on concerns and flow of PRS. Continue to advocate with Lebanese Government for equal treatment of all refugees at the border JORDAN 29 more PRS families were recorded this week bringing the total to 1976 families (8,057 individuals) recorded by UNRWA in Jordan, 30% of which (583) are headed by women. The vast majority of PRS reside in communities with host families or in rented premises mainly in Irbid, Zarqa and Amman and live in abject poverty. 198 PRS reside in Cyber City, the Refugees per Area government appointed facility in Irbid governorate. Education Students are out of school for the summer but UNRWA Irbid expects the number of PRS enrolled in UNRWA schools Zarqa 27% 32% will almost double by the end of 2013 to reach 1,200 (compared to 651 at the end of the 2012‐13 school South North 5 Amman Amman 17% 24% year). During the second half of the year UNRWA will intensify its outreach to the PRS community to encourage families with out‐of‐school children to enroll them in UNRWA or government schools. School counselors, who have been recently trained to provide counseling to PRS students will also work to further a more protective environment for PRS students in UNRWA schools. Health During the first half of the year PRS made 5496 visits to UNRWA clinics for primary health care services and 133 visits to government hospitals for secondary or tertiary health care. UNRWA continues to offer 100% coverage except for treatments whose cost is prohibitive and for which private donations are required.