REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
While the focus is currently on distributing winter assistance (see story at right), the provision of regular basic needs assistance also continues across the region.
In Jordan's Azraq camp, new arrivals packages (over 23,300 items) were distributed to almost 1,800 people, while in Zaatari camp 2,633 items and 725 hygiene vouchers were distributed to special cases in the new arrivals area.
In Iraq, where the number of new arrivals remains low, assistance in the form of CRIs was provided to around 230 households during November: mainly to families who moved to the camps from urban locations or to newly married couples.
In Turkey, partners have distributed regular (non-winter) core relief items (CRIs) to 5,000 households in camps and 2,500 households in urban areas during November.
As part of the Basic Needs Sector in Turkey, partners are also supporting Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and Kilis Municipality in delivering solid waste management services to refugee communities. A feasibility assessment and waste composition analysis were completed, a strategy was developed for recycling and marketing recyclable waste, and proposed waste transfer stations were identified.
The procurement process for new waste collection containers and collection vehicles was undertaken with tenders for three semi-trailers and trucks to be delivered to Gaziantep Municipality and a waste compactor for Kilis Municipality. The waste collection support will improve the capacity of the two municipalities to deliver and sustain waste collection services in areas of high refugee populations, especially in refugee camps where activities are also planned for public awareness raising and education to promote and improve overall efforts for waste collection and recycling.