Highlights
• From 6-14 February, UNICEF participated in the largest ever inter-agency convoy to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to the vulnerable population at the Rukban camp in south-east Syria, along the border with Jordan. UNICEF’s multisectoral assistance included health, nutrition, WASH, winter clothing kits, education and child protection items sufficient for an estimated 41,725 people in need. UNICEF staff monitored the distribution of supplies and conducted intensive needs assessments covering the areas of WASH, child protection, health and nutrition and education.
• In February, UNICEF supported the Turkish Government’s efforts to prevent and address child marriage, with a focus on capacity-building. Approximately 460 staff and service providers from the government, armed forces, women’s shelters and violence prevention centres were trained on how to better identify and respond to child marriage cases.
• The North and Akkar governorates in Lebanon faced several winter storms end of February 2019 which partially affected a total of 48 sites and 160 households. UNICEF responded through the distribution of 51 hygiene kits, 35 children’s kits and the desludging of 20 sites, benefiting a total of 1,165 individuals including 609 children.
• In Jordan, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF inaugurated 60 new Non-Formal Education (NFE) Drop-Out centres in underserved areas, expected to serve 1,500 vulnerable children within the first year of operation. This represents a concrete achievement for the joint efforts to scale-up access of out-of-school children to NFE.
• As of 15 March, UNICEF’s humanitarian appeals for Syria and for Syrian Refugees in 2019 are 30 per cent funded against the US$1.2 billion combined appeals requirement. This includes funds carried from the previous year. The Iraq refugee appeal is most underfunded (99 per cent) against the US$ 18.4 million appeal, followed by Syria HRP (79 per cent) against the US$319.8 million appeal and Lebanon (72 per cent) against the US$ 467.6 million appeal.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
In Syria
5 million
# of children affected
11.7 million
# of people affected
(HNO summary, 2019)
Outside Syria
Over 2.5 million
(2,563,656)
# of registered Syria refugee children
Almost 5.7 million
(5,684,381)
# of registered Syrian refugees
(UNHCR, 24 March 2019)
UNICEF Appeal 2018
US$ 1.2 Billion
Funding Status
US$ 364.7 Million
Syria
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs: Since December 2018 until the end of February 2019, the influx of displaced populations from Hajiin and Baghouz (Deir-Ez-Zor governorate) to Al-Hol camp (Al Hassakeh governorate) continued, with UNICEF playing a key role in the delivery of humanitarian assistance, particularly within the protection sub-sectors (child protection and gender-based violence). According to humanitarian actors coordinating the response in Al-Hol camp, 54,800 displaced people, 90 per cent being women and children, were received in the camp towards the end of the reporting month. As part of the response, 110 unaccompanied and separated children were identified en route to or in the camp, of whom 23 have been united with their families with UNICEF’s support. Furthermore, a total of 95 deaths were reported from the beginning of December 2018 until the end of February 2019 (two thirds of them being children under the age of five) either en route, shortly after arriving at the camp or after referral for treatment. The main causes of death were reportedly hypothermia, pneumonia, dehydration or complications of malnutrition. The sudden and large-scale influx of displaced people has compounded already difficult conditions on the ground. To mitigate the overcrowding, all new-arrivals are now gradually transferred to alternative Phase of the camp, where they are being held prior to screening, distribution of assistance and referral to other areas. In addition, given the overstretched capacity of Al-Hol camp, around 10,000 people were accommodated in large-sized tents, communal service buildings and reception areas. Despite the considerable relief efforts covering the areas of shelter, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and protection, needs, however, remain largely unaddressed and the physical and psychological well-being of vulnerable groups remain a concern. In spite of the recent violence in Hajin area which reportedly resulted in the destruction of 60 per cent of the city, reports from local partners indicate IDP returns. As of mid-February, an estimated 2,000 households returned to the city. UNICEF is planning to further scale-up the response to address the increasing needs also through partners on the ground. UNICEF was able to reach the returnees with health and nutrition, WASH, and non-food items (NFIs), mainly winter clothes, as well as some educational materials.
In the north-west, clashes continued, including shelling on areas controlled by non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in northern and north-west Hama. During the shelling, which targeted the de-militarized zone, around 75 per cent of the total number of families (13,000 families out of 17,400) in the northern and north-west Hama were temporarily displaced to neighbouring farms and safer towns. Similarly, NSAGs responded with counter shelling against all neighbouring GoS-affiliated towns. Following the shelling of As-Suqaylabiyah and Mahrda in north-west Hama on 25 February, the national hospital in As-Suqaylabiyah city reported one civilian death and eight injuries. The electricity station in Mahrda town has reportedly sustained damages as well. Furthermore, the Directorate of Education suspended schools on 26 and 27 February as a precautionary measure. UNICEF programmes and partners continued the provision of services to the affected population in Idleb, northern Hama and Aleppo governorates.
In the south-east, following the second inter-agency humanitarian delivery to Rukban in February, an estimated stranded population of 40,000 people at the Syria-Jordan borders remains in critical need of assistance and systematic access to available services. Negotiations among international parties and guarantors are still ongoing to evacuate the population into collective shelters or to their areas of origin inside Syria.