Shelter and legal assistance for Syrian refugees in Iraq and Jordan: part Iraq

An ever-worsening humanitarian situation in and around Syria has been further compounded by the challenging situation in Iraq and the rise of extremist militant groups. In view of the impact that the current developments have on the stability of the region as a whole, and in view of the international community’s struggle to find a political resolution in Syria, UNHCR remains at the forefront of efforts to contain the deterioration of the regional humanitarian and protection situation. By December 2015, more than four and a half million Syrians had fled war and persecution and become refugees in neighbouring countries. Inside Syria itself, 12.2 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance, including 7.6 million IDPs. This makes the Syria conflict the UNHCR’s worst crisis for almost a quarter of a century. In Syria, as well as across the border from Jordan and Turkey, UNHCR will continue its engagement in the IDP inter-agency coordination framework and the corresponding Strategic Response Plan (SRP), leading the sectors of protection, camp coordination and camp management (CCCM), and shelter/non-food items. In addition to its central coordination role, UNHCR will focus its activities on (1) protection, through supporting access and community-based activities and outreach; (2) shelter, with targeted, life-saving interventions; (3) the distribution of core relief items (CRIs), including winterization assistance; (4) health, supporting access to comprehensive primary healthcare and emergency/ life-saving referrals; and (5) education, including through the rehabilitation of schools. With regard to the refugee response in countries neighbouring Syria, the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) 2016-17 led by UNHCR and UNDP continues to a crucial role in ensuring national authorities, humanitarian and development actors work together towards an effective and sustainable response that will better address the resilience and stabilization needs of impacted and vulnerable communities. In June 2015, a 3RP Progress Report was released outlining the achievements of the first five months of the plan, efficiencies and enhanced effectiveness in service delivery by 3RP partners, funding levels by country, sector and component, and the impact of underfunding on refugees and affected host communities. UNHCR has developed individual country plans in close consultation with the hosting governments and a range of operational partners also contributing towards the overall interagency refugee response. Taking into account the specificity of each country’s operational context, UNHCR’s own activities will focus on (1) protection (including registration, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), child protection, and community empowerment; (2) basic services such as access to quality education and essential healthcare, (3) shelter; (4) basic assistance for vulnerable refugees – including cash assistance; and (5) durable solutions in the form of resettlement. UNHCR will provide refugee families with basic health services and improve the overall management of camps in Iraq.

UNHCR will provide refugee families with basic health services and improve the overall management of camps in Iraq.

1. Objective: Health services improved in Zaatari camp in Jordan As of 31 December 2016, a total of 79,551 Syrians were registered in Zaatari camp, with children representing 56 per cent of the camp’s population and 38 per cent of the population identified as possessing a specific need (e.g. specific legal or physical protection needs, child at risk, medical conditions, disabilities, etc.). UNHCR ensured Zaatari residents have access to a variety of services to meet their basic needs, including healthcare. Although there are seven health providers in the camp, UNHCR’s partner, the Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS), is the only clinic that provides 24-hour care, seven days a week. In addition to providing primary health care, which includes nutrition and reproductive health care, the JHAS clinic is also equipped with a laboratory and pharmacy which makes it a one-stop-shop for health services in the camp. The comprehensive health centre also organizes and transports all medical cases that cannot be treated in the camp and meet the referral criteria to Ministry of Health or private hospitals for care. This feature is vital as it ensures Syrians have access to lifesaving care around the clock. In 2016, a total of 50,180 primary health consultations were provided to over 32,000 refugees through the contribution from the Government of Belgium. JHAS also monitored and treated 2,329 chronic cases throughout the year and conducted 45,852 laboratory tests to aid diagnosis. The most prevalent consultations were related to acute upper respiratory infections, acute tonsillitis, flu-like symptoms and diarrhoea/gastroenteritis. The provision of timely medical care helps refugees live in dignity and reduce the spread of communicable diseases which is particularly important in camp settings, as it minimizes the potential for future outbreaks. 2. Objective: Camp coordination and camp management capacity for Syrian refugee camps in Kurdistan Region of Iraq refined and improved In 2016, camp coordination mechanisms were reinforced and regular coordination meetings were organized in all nine refugee camps in the KR-I, on a monthly basis. The meetings, led by UNHCR, ensured that all actors, including humanitarian and government partners discussed activities in the camps, including challenges and proposed solutions. UNHCR also regularly updated the 3Ws products (Who, What, Where) and camp profiles for the nine camps which enabled existing and new actors to coordinate with each other and avoid duplication of assistance. These activities helped in improving the quality of services, assistance and support to Syrian refugees. Community empowerment was a priority for CCCM implementation in 2016, and work with the communities was reinforced through different mechanisms such as focus group discussions, dialogue between communities and service providers, camp sector/committee elections and enhanced complaint referral systems. UNHCR trained 77 refugees in community self-management in camps and facilitated the election of 18 refugees as community leaders. Camp committees ensured representation of older people and women. UNHCR also provided technical support to the authorities to fulfil their responsibilities in regard to coordination of partners operating in the camps, registration of refugees, and response to protection-related concerns. Capacity building of government camp management staff (e.g. registration clerks, field and protection monitors) continued. In 2016, UNHCR trained 161 government authorities and provided coaching and mentoring support to reinforce their technical capacity on tracking and monitoring standards in order to be able design and establish relevant plans and strategies for long term solutions. UNHCR handed over the management of camps to the Government in December 2016. Overall, the project supported all Syrian refugees in nine camps in the KR-I (95,694 individuals). ./...