Fighting Hunger Worldwide HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

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1 WFP s Response Inside Syria and in Neighbouring Countries: Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt Situation Report # 32 Reporting Period: 9-15 December 2012 Fighting Hunger Worldwide HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES EMERGENCY Due to the urgency, scale and complexity of the operations in Syria and the surrounding countries, WFP activated a corporate Level 3 Emergency Response on 14 December. SYRIA November cycle dispatches concluded on 10 December with 95 percent of the required food at final distribution points. November distributions remain ongoing, having reached 1,363,050 beneficiaries by 15 December and expected to conclude shortly. Dispatches for December cycle commenced on 10 December. JORDAN WFP reached nearly 46,600 beneficiaries with voucher assistance under the November-December cycle; a two-week distribution cycle targeting nearly 65,300 beneficiaries started on 15 December. In Al Za atri camp, the first cycle of dry ration distributions reached over 28,400 beneficiaries and the second cycle will begin on 16 December. LEBANON WFP assisted over 80,450 people in Lebanon in November. Thus far in December, WFP has delivered assistance to over 53,900 people; distributions are ongoing. IRAQ Since WFP launched its voucher programme in Domiz camp, nearly 11,400 individuals have received value-based food vouchers. Food commodities for Syrian refugees in Al-Qaim have started to arrive in Iraq and WFP is coordinating with the Ministry of Displacement and Migration and UNHCR to begin distribution. WFP will be working with Islamic Relief for food distribution in Al-Qaim. TURKEY WFP together with the Turkish Red Crescent Society provided electronic voucher assistance to over 21,700 Syrian beneficiaries in camps across Kilis and Hatay in November. So far, in December, nearly 25,500 people have received e-vouchers. EGYPT WFP plans to implement a voucher programme targeting up to 30,000 food insecure Syrian refugees between January and June WFP, UNHCR and UNICEF have conducted a joint needs assessment. Syrian girl at Al Za atri Camp, Jordan. WFP/Jonathan Dumont 1 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency

2 Syria Similar to the previous week, WFP distribution activities continued while monitoring activities were still limited with only one monitoring visit in Damascus and a visit to SARC branch near the WFP Tartous sub-office. The week witnessed continuing challenges in bread and fuel supply. Long queues in front of bakeries were reported in many parts of the country including the north and northeastern governorates. Both Tartous and Food Assistance Programme: Through its emergency operation (EMOP), WFP continues to target 1.5 million beneficiaries in all 14 Syria governorates with food assistance. Assessment: The revalidation exercise for the June Joint Rapid Food Security Needs Assessment by WFP, FAO and Ministry of Agriculture (MAAR) is currently ongoing, albeit with some delays due to the prevailing situation. Discussions on the findings are expected to take place in the coming weeks and the first draft of the findings would be presented by early January. Logistics Activities: Food Dispatches - November cycle dispatches concluded on 10 December and food assistance for 1,414,375 beneficiaries arrived at Final Distribution Points (FDPs) in targeted governorates except of Quneitra that received none due to a road blockade. Dispatches for December cycle commenced on 9 December and as of 15 December, food assistance for 149,750 beneficiaries arrived in Damascus, rural Lattakia Ports remain operational but with reduced activities, reportedly due to lack of trucks, restriction of movements on some roads and shortages of diesel in Tartous. As the situation in Damascus continues to be volatile with increasing challenges in securing sufficient fuel for operational needs, food dispatches during the week were mainly covered by the new hub in Safita. Damascus, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, Tartous and Aleppo governorates. Fuel- Fuel supply remains a major challenge; in the recent weeks, fuel prices have been rising exponentially and have now reached unprecedented levels. WFP is concerned that continuing shortage of fuel would seriously hamper its operations in the country. Inter-agency Support - During the reporting week, WFP has dispatched approximately 49 mt of non-food items on behalf of DRC, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, and WHO. Coordination: To improve inter-agency logistics coordination of the humanitarian community undertaking activities in response to the events in Syria, WFP has established a logistics coordination mechanism in Damascus, Beirut and Amman. Over 20 organizations (UN agencies, NGOs, International Organizations, Donor agencies) attend regularly. RESOURCE UPDATE Country Planned Beneficiaries in November 2012 Current EMOP Value till June 2013 (million US$) Contributions Received to date (million US$) Current Shortfall (million US$) Percentage Contributions Received/Shortfall Syria 1,500, /53.3 For more information please visit: 2 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency

3 Jordan Syrians in Jordan UNHCR Registered: 103,698 Awaiting Registration: 42,224 Total: 145,942 (Government figure: 240,000) Al Za atri Camp: This week, Al Za atri camp received 3,256 new arrivals. Winterization: In Al Za atri camp, WFP dry rations combined with UNHCR complementary goods provide nearly 2,400 kilocalories per person on a daily basis. In urban areas starting with the January cycle WFP will increase the voucher value by 2 Jordanian dinars per person, per month in order to account for food price increases and winterization of the food basket Contingency: As part of WFP s immediate contingency planning based on the current stocks and the pipeline, WFP has the capacity to cover 50,000 people for one month which allows time to procure sufficient commodities Food Distribution: The first cycle of December distribution of dry rations in Al Za atri camp ran from 2 to 8 December, reaching over 28,400 beneficiaries. The second cycle will begin 16 December. Welcome meals were distributed to new arrivals on a daily basis. Through cooperating partner Save the Children, WFP distributed 7.25 mt of bread on a daily basis in Al Za atri camp. Save the Children also purchased extra bread daily to make up for shortages, and a local businessman is providing 500 kg of bread per day. Beneficiaries Reached in Jordan July 5,247 August 18,000 September 48,050 October 69,752 November 74,521 December 28,415, ongoing Voucher Distribution: WFP s cooperating partners Islamic Relief, Human Relief Foundation (HRF), and Save the Children distributed vouchers to almost 46,600 Syrian refugees under the November-December cycle. WFP began voucher distribution for a two-week cycle on 15 December targeting over 65,000 people so that the 2013 distributions will be aligned with the monthly calendar. Operational Issues: WFP will review the amount of bread provided per day on a bi-weekly basis to increase the supply in line with daily new arrivals. As a preparedness measure, WFP is seeking additional cooperating partners. The new Zarqa camp is still under construction by the Jordanian Army. The camp will be ready for handover by the end of December. WFP is in the process of procuring date bars for daily distribution to children in schools in Al Za atri camp Distributions should begin mid-january. Assessments: WFP and UNICEF have completed the preliminary analysis of the General Nutrition Survey. Coordination: On 11 December, WFP met with UNHCR to discuss refugee registration and deregistration/transfer from camp to host community voucher programme, 2013 joint programme planning and contingency planning. WFP and UNHCR will hold monthly coordination meetings to ensure a continued attention to joint priorities in the Syrian Refugee Response. 3 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency

4 Lebanon Syrians in Lebanon UNHCR Registered: 111,865 Awaiting Registration: 42,522 Total: 154,387 Registration Activities: Through registration centres in Tripoli, Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and south Lebanon, UNHCR registers approximately 1,500 refugees daily. The majority come from Homs, Aleppo and Damascus. Security: By 11 December, the overall security situation in North Lebanon was calm. North: WFP will assist over 54,500 Syrian refugees in December; this number is 24% higher than the previous cycle. The December cycle of voucher and non-food item distribution started in Tripoli; thus far, 3,200 Syrian households have received an estimated 14,700 food vouchers. Bekaa Valley: WFP finished the first December cycle distribution of full value food vouchers (US$ 31) on 15 December; the second cycle distribution of half value food vouchers (US$ 15.5) started on 18 December and run until 22 December. WFP is also distributing food parcels to the unregistered new arrivals through the DRC Newcomers project. South /Mount Lebanon/Beirut: December cycle distribution of full value food vouchers (US$31) will start next week. Beneficiaries Reached in Lebanon July 30,942 August 37,470 September 49,342 October 67,632 November 80,457 December 53,915, ongoing Assessments: The feasibility and risk assessment matrix of the prepaid card solution has been completed. Discussions have been initiated with UNHCR to define the methodology and criteria for the profiling exercise of the refugee population scheduled to start in the second half of January Iraq Syrians in Iraq UNHCR Registered: 66,048 Operational Issues: The household food security survey for the Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan Region was completed this week covering refugees in Domiz camp and refugees hosted in communities in Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates. The draft report will be ready by the second half of January The foundation for the wiikhall in Al-Qaim has been completed in camp 2 and UNHCR finalized the site for installation in camp 3; UNHCR is now doing handover to Qandil to start installing the storage facilities. WFP has received all of the facilitation letters from the relevant Government ministries and departments. The Government of Iraq appointed quality control agent to check the food items and provide certification before the food can be allowed through the border. Domiz: December voucher distributions are ongoing. From 29 November to 15 December, WFP distributed vouchers to more than 11,530 individuals 4 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency Al-Qaim: Food distribution in Al-Qaim will start immediately after the arrival of food commodities from Turkey; 5,000 food parcels (half of the planned distribution) arrived in the country mid-december.

5 Islamic Relief is WFP s cooperating partner for food distribution in Al-Qaim. Coordination: WFP launched the food sector coordination group in Iraq, with the first meeting taking place on 10 December at Domiz camp. Beneficiaries Reached in Iraq September 10,212 October 10,400 November 10,396 December 11,530, ongoing Turkey Syrians in Turkey Government Registered: 136,810 Government estimate of Syrians present in country: 200,000 Syrians in Turkey: Syrian refugees are able to move freely between camps and private accommodation. Families living in private accommodation are considered to have adequate financial resources, or external support, to cover their basic needs. From anecdotal reports it seems that some households outside the camps are facing significant challenges in supporting their needs with no formal assistance; WFP is investigating further. Some families who were previously being hosted in the community are now seeking admission to the camps, indicating they have depleted their assets. Voucher Distributions: Following the successful establishment of the Electronic Food Card programme in Hatay, WFP provided assistance to 21,770 Syrian beneficiaries in camps across Kilis and Hatay in November, and has assisted nearly 21,550 in December. Beneficiaries Reached in Turkey October 12,223 November 21,770 December 21,548 Operational Issues: The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency has requested assistance from WFP and partners, including UNHCR and the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS), to establish cooking facilities in the new camps. Local governments are increasingly concerned about the strain on local communities of hosting refugees outside of formal camp settings, including the impact on health services, public schools and accommodation. Egypt Syrians in Egypt Government Registered: 9,848 Government estimate of Syrians present in country: 150,000 Assistance: The Government of Egypt officially requested WFP s support to assist an increasing number of Syrian refugees in the country. WFP, UNHCR and UNICEF jointly agreed to include Egypt in the revision of the Regional Response Plan (RRP4). 5 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency

6 Assessments: The joint WFP/UNHCR/UNICEF needs assessment has been finalized. WFP is at the planning stage to conduct initial assessments to potential retailers that may be partners for the planned voucher assistance. Voucher Assistance: WFP will support up to 30, 000 food insecure Syrian refugees in Egypt, starting with 10,000 in January 2013 and increasing to 30,000 in June WFP will provide food assistance through food vouchers as well as technical assistance and capacity development for partners. In order to ensure a well-targeted food assistance, WFP is working with UNHCR to analyse the profile of the registered refugees. WFP also plans to conduct a joint assessment mission with UNHCR which will inform the targeting process, based on strengthened food security/vulnerability criteria. Regional Coordination WFP is extending the current Emergency Operation to June In addition to the continuation of assistance to Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, plans incorporate vulnerable Lebanese returnees who have been affected by the events in Syria and up to 30,000 Syrian refugees in OVERVIEW OF SYRIA and REGIONAL EMOPs Egypt who are now in need of humanitarian assistance. On 14 December, due to the urgency, scale and complexity of the operations in Syria and the surrounding countries, WFP activated a corporate Level 3 Emergency Response. Country BENEFICIARIES REACHED IN SYRIA AND THE REGION Modality of October November* December (ongoing) Assistance Syria GFD 1,429,265 1,363,050 51,750 Jordan Vouchers 37,752 46,594 - GFD 32,000 27,927 28,455 Lebanon Vouchers 62,742 77,532 52,700 GFD 4,890 2,925 1,215 Iraq Vouchers ,357 GFD 10,400 10,396 - Turkey Vouchers 12,223 21,770 21,548 General Food Distribution Total in 29,670 47,290 41,248 Region Voucher Total in Region 117, ,396 85,605 Total beneficiaries reached in Region 165, , ,275 General Food Distribution (GFD) includes dry rations, bread, food parcels, hot meals and welcome meals Vouchers include paper and electronic modalities * distributions ongoing; figure as of 15 December For further information contact: Ms. Abeer Etefa, Sr. Regional Public Information Officer Abeer.Etefa@wfp.org Please visit: 6 WFP s Response inside Syria and Regional Refugee Emergency