Highlights
• In 2017, WFP reached more than 3.5 million people across Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey through various food and cash assistance programmes under the Regional Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation (PRRO) 200987.
• For 2018, the regional response is now covered by one Country Strategic Plan in Lebanon, and four Transitional Interim Country Strategic Plans in the other four countries.
• The 2018 Regional Refugee Response (3RP) was launched in December, seeking USD 4.4 billion to support over 5 million refugees from Syria and vulnerable host community members in the five neighbouring countries.
Situation Update
Regional
• As of December 2017, there are more than 5.4 million refugees from Syria in neighbouring countries of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
Egypt
• During the month, most of the food market price recorded high inflation rates, reaching 51.6 percent for dairy and poultry products, 44.6 percent for oil and fats products, 43.6 percent for meat, 39.3 percent for bread and cereals and 37.1 percent for vegetables. This has a direct impact on the purchasing power of the Egyptian households.
Iraq
• Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Nichirvan Barzani has called on the Parliament to arrange general elections in KRG by the end of March 2018 to bolster Kurdish unity.
Jordan
• The overall safety and security situation in Jordan remained stable, with Jordanian Armed Forces continuing to foil infiltration attempts, according to media reports. The Jordanian Armed Forces have increased defensive systems along the borders.
Lebanon
• President Michel Aoun invited various Lebanese parties to a bilateral dialogue to address the issue of outside international political interference in order to find a solution to the postponed resignation of Prime Minister Hariri. Hariri has requested non-participation of Hezbollah in conflicts outside of Lebanon.
Turkey
• Turkey’s Deputy Director General of Migration Management (DGMM) said on 21 December that 75,000 Syrians have been repatriated from Turkey following Operation Euphrates Shield and that Turkey was facilitating their return. He added that more refugees will willingly return to their home country soon.