UNICEF RESPONSE TO THE SYRIA CRISIS January December 2014 UNICEF Syria/2013/sharpe January 2014
Table of Contents 1. BACKGROUND... 2 2. UNICEF RESPONSE IN 2013... 2 3. UNICEF 2014 RESPONSE PLANS... 6 SYRIA RESPONSE... 6 REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE... 7 4. FUNDING NEEDS FOR 2014... 7 1
1. BACKGROUND As Syria s conflict nears the end of its third year, its impact has been devastating for millions of children. Unrelenting violence, massive population displacement, and damage to infrastructure and essential services have left around 9.3 million 40 per cent of the population in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria. Nearly 6.5 million are displaced from their homes struggling to survive in increasingly desperate conditions; over 100,000 people have been killed between March 2011 and September 2013, at least 6,500 were children. Hundreds of thousands of children have been wounded, including debilitating injuries causing life-long disabilities. It is estimated that some 4.65 million children have been directly affected by the crisis. Many have witnessed unspeakable cruelties resulting in psychological distress, as they are exposed to the horrors of war. Close to 2.3 million boys and girls are still out of school or at risk of dropping out of school in Syria, while a lack of access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation coupled with the deteriorating food security situation is raising serious concerns on the nutritional status of children. Over 250,000 children under the age of five are suspected to be at risk of under-nutrition. The collapsing health care and water systems are exposing children to infectious diseases. In November 2013, Syria confirmed 17 cases of wild polio virus in the country for the first time since 1999. The detection of polio has been declared a public health emergency. Low immunization rates among children, coupled with large population movements, have created a high-risk environment for further transmission which must be urgently addressed in 2014. UNICEF Syria/2013/Hassoun Conflict affected children enjoy art activities at a UNICEF-supported centre in rural Tartous. The situation of Syrian refugees remains precarious. As of the end of 2013, over 1.1 million children, along with their families, have been forced to take refuge in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. While crossing borders has offered Syrian children protection from the worst of the violence, they remain at risk. Children arrive traumatized by the events they have experienced. The threat of measles, polio, malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases persists. Sixty-four per cent of refugee children are out of school. In Jordan, for example, it has been found that more girls are marrying at a young age; children are more likely to be exposed to violence; and one in ten children are engaged in labour, with boys more likely to participate in the worst forms of labour. While 20 per cent of Syria s 2.3 million refugees live in 40 refugee camps in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, the majority live in host communities. Many of these families live in makeshift settlements and are exposed to harsh elements and are at increased risk of disease. Ongoing, long-term exposure to extreme violence, hardship and displacement are known to have a lasting impact on children s psychosocial wellbeing, as confirmed by various assessments. Displacement has also exacerbated issues of family separation, child labour, risks of trafficking, SGBV including early marriage, and domestic violence. 2. UNICEF S RESPONSE IN 2013 UNICEF and partners have reached millions of people inside Syria with lifesaving assistance in 2013, despite the challenging operating environment, with an escalating armed conflict compounding the situation. In order to prevent transmission of waterborne diseases and enhance continued access to clean water, UNICEF in partnership with ICRC is supporting chlorination efforts to provide 10,000,000 people with access to clean water. Over 580,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) have been reached with soap and hygiene items. UNICEF- supported fixed centres and mobile health teams across Syria have 2
reached over 340,000 children with medical check-ups, treatment and referrals; over 2 million under five children have been vaccinated against polio. UNICEF has provided school bags and teaching and learning materials for over 1,000,000 children in all 14 governorates. In addition, 421,953 children and adolescents have received psychosocial support, including over 10,000 Palestinian refugees. UNICEF is also delivering winter supplies for 2 million children, including high thermal blankets and winter clothes. UNICEF also carries out regular missions across the lines of conflict to reach some of the worst-affected parts of the country In countries hosting Syrian refugees, UNICEF has supported access to education and learning programmes for over 267,000 children. In addition, 4.7 million measles vaccinations were administered and 22 million children reached with polio vaccines in refugee and non-refugee populations - against these resurgent diseases. Psychosocial support has been provided to 388,000 refugee children, many through schools and Child Friendly Spaces, or, as in Lebanon, through other community gateways such as community centres and registration centres. Over 330,000 people refugees and host communities have been supported to access safe drinking and domestic water. UNICEF has led efforts in the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene in camps in Jordan and Iraq. Outside of camps, household WASH infrastructure has been constrained by scattered populations and tensions with host communities, especially important in informal tented settlements in Lebanon. In Iraq, UNICEF and partners responded quickly to the rapid influx of at least 40,000 refugees in August /September 2013 with WASH services, immunization and tented classrooms. UNICEF child protection, education and health interventions in Turkey are complementary to the response by the Government of Turkey for refugees in camps. UNICEF/Lebanon-2013/Abdulunem Children in Lebanon s Bekaa valley, wearing new wool gloves, cardigan, hats, jackets and scarves which they received as part of UNICEF Lebanon s winter item distribution. Across the sub-region, UNICEF continues to scale up its education response, including school supplies, school rehabilitation, teacher training, pre-fabricated classrooms and subsidizing spaces in semi-private schools. These interventions attempt to address some of the major barriers to education including school fees, lack of learning spaces and learning resources and security. A programme of support to help children through the cold winter months including distribution of blankets, clothing and support to heating in schools and of water has been rolled out in all countries. In Syria, over one million blankets and over 188,000 children s clothing sets have been delivered to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and other partners for distribution to benefit over 1.5 million people. UNICEF has delivered 90,500 winter clothing kits to partners in Lebanon and for children living in informal tented settlements. In Jordan UNICEF, in coordination with NRC and UNHCR, has distributed over 30,000 winter clothing kits to all children up to age five years old in Cyber City, King Abdullah Park and Za atari camps. In Iraq over 8,300 Syrian children received winter clothing and 6,250 blankets were distributed. In Turkey 34,797 jumpsuit sets were distributed to children under two. 3
No Lost Generation? Significant efforts have been made over the past two years to support education and protection interventions for Syrian and host community children. These efforts aim to heal the invisible wounds of Syria s children and preserve their future. Even on the front lines inside Syria, and in host communities and refugee camps, children are being helped to learn through a mix of conventional school-based education and innovative home-learning programmes. In Syria, in Lebanon, and in Jordan, children are receiving professional counselling to help them overcome the trauma they ve suffered and begin the process of healing through sport, play, arts and drama. In some areas older children are learning vocational and life-skills training, so crucial to returning to a normal life when the conflict ends. However these services are only reaching a minority of the children who need them and the needs are increasing exponentially with a massive surge in the number of out of school children over the past year. A concerted effort is therefore needed to expand existing support. To respond to this need, and building on the groundwork established by successive iterations of the SHARP and the RRP, a No Lost Generation strategy was developed in Millions of Syrian children are at risk of becoming a "lost generation" as they miss out on education, vaccinations and a number of critical interventions. There is no better resilience strategy than investing in the skills, knowledge and well-being of children - their future, and the future of Syria, depend on them. Maria Calivis, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa 2013 to ensure that a generation of Syrian children whether living inside the country or abroad as refugees are provided with the protective environment and learning opportunities they need to reclaim their childhood. 4
This strategy targets about 6 million children across the region. Through formal and informal programmes, through schools and learning spaces, and with a guarantee that the education they obtain will be recognised when they return home, partners will seek to reverse the large number of children dropping out of schools. School-feeding programmes, voucher schemes, teacher training and psychosocial support will complement efforts to boost access and quality. At the same time, efforts will be made to shield close to 3 million children from the threat of violence, displacement, separation, sexual and gender-based violence, as well as recruitment into armed forces. From communities to systems, from policy-makers to parents, partners will seek to create a protective environment for children by promoting the right policies, strengthening the right skills, and meeting needs with the right resources. UNICEF/Jordan-2013/Malkawi Syrian refugee receives school supplies in Za atari refugee camp in Jordan The success of the strategy depends on a joint effort by all partners, on renewed public support around the concept of preventing a lost generation, and on sustained regional engagement on behalf of the children of Syria, and those affected by this conflict in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and beyond. The strategy calls for USD 990 million which is in part included in the SHARP5/RRP6 and integrated into resilience planning exercises in Jordan and Lebanon. Anticipated funding is to be channelled through multiple modalities including inter-agency appeals such as the RRP6, multilateral and bilateral financing, direct budget support, and contributions to multi-partner funding mechanisms. Funding Status in 2013 Thanks to the generosity and support of UNICEF s many donor partners, the UNICEF portion of the 2013 appeal was 104% funded. While the appeal received more funding than requested gaps remained for some countries and some sectors. Funding needs were met inside Syria, Iraq and Egypt while gaps remained in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The WASH and education sectors received the most funds in absolute terms however given the large needs in these sectors, funding gaps remained. 5
3. UNICEF S 2014 RESPONSE PLANS SYRIA RESPONSE In 2014, UNICEF will continue to scale-up life-saving interventions for conflict affected vulnerable populations inside Syria, in key sectors including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health and nutrition, winter supplies, education and child protection. Inside Syria WASH services aim to reach some 10 million people with a focus on prevention of waterborne diseases and hygiene promotion activities targeting communities and schools in hard to reach areas. In the health sector, the detection of 17 confirmed wild polio virus cases in November 2013 has led to a public health emergency. Low immunization rates among children, coupled with large population movements, have created a high-risk environment for further transmission which will be urgently addressed in 2014 through special polio campaigns together with routine vaccinations. Support to Primary Health Care and management of acute malnutrition will also be prioritized. UNICEF will continue responding to seasonal needs, including the need for winterisation interventions such as provision of blankets and winter clothing, and prevention of disease outbreaks during summer months. As part of the efforts to preserve the future of Syrian children, in line with the No Lost Generation? strategy, an integrated package of education, child protection and adolescent development programmes will be implemented to reach 4 million children inside Syria. These children will be supported with equitable access to quality education through school rehabilitation, remedial education, self-learning, early childhood development, psychosocial support and provision of school supplies. Child Protection programmes will continue to expand, with Risk Education on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) to be rolled out to over 6,000 schools reaching more than 1.8 million children. UNICEF will continue to advocate for the protection and safety of all children in Syria, regardless of their location. On-going efforts for setting up systems to independently monitor and verify grave child rights violations will be enhanced. UNICEF is working closely with a wide range of partners including NGOs/INGOS, UN agencies and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). Building the capacity of SARC and other NGO partners for scaling up of interventions and sustained services will be at the heart of the strategy. UNICEF will continue to work with a network of partners on programme response across the country with field offices in key locations; 6
monitoring of supplies and services; and situation assessment to reach every Syrian child with a particular focus on those most vulnerable in hard to reach areas. REGIONAL REFUGEE RESPONSE In countries hosting Syrian refugees, life-saving humanitarian interventions will continue in 2014 in key UNICEF priority areas of WASH, Education, Child Protection and Health and Nutrition. In parallel UNICEF will focus on supporting national governments to build the resilience of host communities and strengthen local public services to meet the additional demand. UNICEF and its partners will continue to provide safe water and sanitation in camps, while making efforts to extend economical and sustainable access to water more broadly to refugees and host communities. The risk of water-borne diseases in refugee populations will be reduced through delivery of hygiene products and services including hygiene promotion and distribution of key supplies. Over 1 million refugees will be supported to access clean water. Polio campaigns are being prioritized and will continue in 2014, aiming to vaccinate over 20 million children across the region. Seasonal response plans will protect children from the worst of winter weather conditions through the provision of winter clothes, blankets and heating for classrooms. In response to the massive surge in the number of out of school children, and building on the groundwork established by the previous Regional Refugee Plans, and the No Lost Generation? strategy, UNICEF will provide immediate humanitarian response interventions in education and child protection. This will be coupled with longer term support to build the resilience of children, communities and education and protection systems and infrastructure critical to the future of Syrian children. UNICEF and partners will provide learning materials, teacher training, temporary classrooms and other support to ensure all refugee children are able to go to school. Equally, to deal with the trauma that children are suffering, psycho-social programmes will be strengthened and expanded. 4. FUNDING NEEDS FOR 2014 In line with the Syria inter-agency 2014 Strategic Response Plan (SHARP5) and the Refugee Response Plan (RRP6), UNICEF is requesting a total $USD 835 million to meet the humanitarian needs of children inside Syria and the sub-region in 2014. This represents an increase of $ USD 364 million or roughly 77 percent from 2013. Lebanon, Syria and Jordan are asking for the majority of funds. In terms of sectors, the majority of funds that UNICEF is appealing for in 2014 are for interventions in the WASH and Education Sectors. Almost half of the funds requested to allow for the scaling up of humanitarian water, sanitation and hygiene interventions while supporting the resilience of host communities in the sub-region in terms of improving sustainable water and sanitation delivery systems. 7
The figures below show the country and sectoral breakdown of UNICEF s funding request: 8
Annex 1: Detailed Country Office Response Plans (all funding need in US$) OBJECTIVES SYRIA WASH Improve access to safe & reliable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for IDPs in collective shelters and for IDPs in host communities Ensure water, sanitation and hygiene services to the agreed standard with primary purpose of satisfying vital needs, dignity and reduction of public health related risk for population in need in all Governorates Improve access to safe & reliable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for children in schools, child friendly spaces and public institutions in the most affected areas/ Governorates EDUCATION To achieve the improved equitable access to quality education for all the children and adolescents affected by the crisis in Syria. By the end of 2014, 3,900,000 vulnerable boys and girls who are internally displaced and/or out of school have equitable access to quality learning opportunities through formal and non-formal education. By the end of 2014, boys and girls in 500 schools have access to safe, protective learning environment equipped with gender-sensitive sanitation facilities. Throughout 2014, 3,000 trained school teachers and counsellors provide psychosocial support and recreational activities for children and adolescents in the Governorates affected by the crisis and displacement. 1,000,000 children and 30,000 adolescents who are internally displaced and/or out of school especially girls and adolescent girls have access to alternative, non-formal education opportunities by the end of 2014 including self-learning, scholarship, peace building for conflict resolution, and vocational and life skills for youth empowerment. HEALTH Sustain routine vaccination programme for children under five among affected population Reach children under five with at least six supplementary vaccination campaigns for polio eradication (all U5 children). Reach children under five with MMR vaccine though vaccination campaigns. Provide children under five with access to primary health care Increase awareness of mothers on maternal and child health care NUTRITION Strengthen coordinated nutrition response through promotion of agreed response strategies, facilitate coverage/gap analysis, advocacy, mobilise and build partnerships, and inter-sector action with health, WASH and food security Provide screening and treatment services for children under five years of age, pregnant and lactating women suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition through community and facility based nutritional management approach. Prevent malnutrition in early childhood through promotion of improved infant and young child feeding, care giving practices, and care seeking practices and stimulation at the facility, family and community level. Prevent micro-nutrient deficiencies in children and women through provision of multiple micronutrient supplements, Vitamin A, deworming and promotion of appropriate feeding practices. Strengthen local technical capacity and provide appropriate resources (SECTOR) (UNICEF) 10,000,000 10,000,000 affected population, including 5 million children, and 2.5 million women 3,946,000 Total: 3,946,000, including 2.9 million in-school and 1 million out-of-school children, and 46,000 teachers, tutors and parents 9,300,000 Total: 1,980,000 Children: 1,600,000 Women: 380,000 1,000,000 Total: 900,000 under five children, pregnant and lactating women FUNDING NEEDS 80,500,000 81,022,134 20,470,000 15,200,000 9
to initiate integration of CMAM into Primary Health Care. CHILD PROTECTION Children s, adolescents and women s coping mechanisms and resilience are strengthened, and affected boys and girls are receiving 2,120,000 Total: 25,000,000 appropriate support Community networks and referrals mechanism to medical and psychosocial support and other services are established and strengthened Prevention and response to Gender Based Violence integrated into psychosocial support, child protection services and other inter-sectoral services including distribution of protective targeted material assistance Impact and risks posed by explosive remnants of war (ERW) on children and their families, including IDPs minimized. Children recruited or used by armed forces or groups are released and reintegrated and further recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups is prevented. Awareness increased and preventive action taken at different levels and group on key child protection risks. Children, women and families supported with essential material assistance in most war affected areas and prepositioning of stocks for response in case of rapid deterioration of situation with a focus on winterization. Family tracing/reunification systems (IDTR) are in place and alternative care and protection services are provided to separated and unaccompanied children Child Protection working group is coordinated and led 1,558,000, including 720,000 children, 450,000 women and 388,000 adolescents TOTAL REQUIREMENT FOR SYRIA: 222,192,134 OBJECTIVES JORDAN WASH Affected population are ensured safe, equitable and sustained access to sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking and hygiene Affected populations have access to safe and appropriate sanitation facilities Affected populations have reduced risk of WASH related diseases through sustainable and equitable access to improved hygienic practices, hygiene promotion and delivery of hygiene products and services Establish and maintain effective mechanisms for WASH coordination at national and sub-national levels. EDUCATION Children and youth have sustained access to appropriate education opportunities Children and youth benefit from a learning environment that promotes quality education, protection and well-being. HEALTH & NUTRITION Improve equitable access, quality and coverage to comprehensive primary health care for Syrian refugee women, girls, boys and men in Jordan by end of 2014. Support the capacity of the national health care system to provide services to Syrian women, girls, boys and men and vulnerable Jordanians in the most affected s by the end of 2014. Improve coverage of comprehensive health and rehabilitation services to Syrian refugees through integrated community level interventions by end of 2014. (SECTOR) (UNICEF) FUNDING NEEDS 680,000 525,000 0 157,505 150,000 44,759,280 580,960 580,960 Health 7,680,494 Nutrition 3,820,563 10
CHILD PROTECTION The risks and consequences of SGBV experienced by WGBM are reduced/mitigated, and the quality of response is improved, in accordance with AGD principles Emergency child protection interventions for boys & girls are strengthened & harmonized 529,200 180,900 22,085,517 TOTAL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS FOR JORDAN: 170,517,374 OBJECTIVES LEBANON WASH WATER - Affected populations are ensured with safe, equitable and sustainable access to a sufficient quantity of water for drinking, cooking and personal and domestic hygiene SANITATION - Affected populations are protected from the spread of disease, and promoted with a safe, sanitary and hygienic living environment HYGIENE - Affected populations have reduced risk of WASH-related diseases through access to improved hygienic practices, effective community mobilisation to address harmful current practices, hygiene promotion, and delivery of hygiene products and services on a sustainable and equitable basis EDUCATION Ensure that the right to education for all children is fulfilled in a protective learning environment Systems strengthened to deliver quality education to respond to the escalating Syrian crisis in a protective learning environment (SECTOR) (UNICEF) 2,236,700 Water 385,726 Hygiene 713,000 Sanitation 267,288 FUNDING NEEDS 90,104,520 331,000 250,000 87,852,274 HEALTH & NUTRITION Improve access, coverage and quality of primary health care services Strengthen National Health Systems 1,885,000 840,000 31,577,787 PROTECTION Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Vulnerabilities of Children Reduced, Protection violations mitigated, capacity building of CP actors BASIC NEEDS Targeted population has the necessary seasonal NFI and sufficient access to energy to survive winter without adverse effects. 350,000 children 200,000 caregivers 37,500 GBV survivors MRE: 30,000 35,486,000 625,101 100,000 5,000,000 TOTAL FUNDINGREQUIRED FOR LEBANON 250,020,581 11
OBJECTIVES IRAQ WASH WASH interventions targeted affected populations are effectively coordinated at the national and sub-national levels in close collaboration with other sectors. Affected populations have timely, equitable and sustainable access to sufficient water of appropriate quality and quantity for drinking, cooking and maintaining personal hygiene Affected populations have access to safe, sanitary and hygienic living environment through provision of sanitation services that are culturally appropriate, secure, sanitary, user-friendly and genderappropriate; Affected populations have reduced risk of WASH-related diseases through access to improved hygienic practices, effective community mobilization to address harmful current practices, hygiene promotion, and delivery of hygiene products and services on a sustainable and equitable basis EDUCATION To increase access to inclusive and equitable education opportunities for Syrian refugees, boys and girls from pre-school to university education levels using formal and alternative approaches by December 2014. To improve quality of education for Syrian refugees, boys and girls, accessing inclusive education from pre-school to secondary level by December 2014. HEALTH & NUTRITION Improve equitable access, quality, use & coverage to essential health care to Syrian refugees in camp and non-camp setting while ensuring sustained Improve coverage of comprehensive health services to Syrian refugees through integrated community level interventions by end of 2014. Support the capacity of the national health care system to provide services to Syrian refugees and vulnerable Iraqis in the most affected governorates by the end of 2014. CHILD PROTECTION Capacity and Quality of registration and profiling improved and maintained Countrywide Risk of SGBV reduced and quality of response improved Protection of children strengthened (SECTOR) 250,000 168,000 refugees and 4,086 people in host communities (UNICEF) 160,000 360,000 360,000 (Contingency for disease outbreak) FUNDING NEEDS 67,383,303 91,400 20,600,000 5.3 million (vaccination campaign) 11,183,500 84,500 40,000 6,280,000 TOTAL FUNDS REQUIRED FOR IRAQ 105,446,803 12
OBJECTIVES TURKEY EDUCATION Ensure access to formal and non-formal education for Syrian refugee children in camps and non-camp settings Increase the quality of education for Syrian refugee children in a protective learning environment, in camps and non-camp settings. CHILD PROTECTION Community empowerment, engagement, outreach and self-reliance is strengthened and expanded, including through the provision of psychosocial support to men, women, boys and girls. The risks and consequences of SGBV experienced by women, girls, boys and men affected by the Syrian Crisis in Turkey are reduced and/or mitigated. Child protection interventions for boys and girls affected by the Syrian crisis in Turkey are strengthened and harmonized. HEALTH Strengthening communicable diseases surveillance and response, including immunization, to mitigate morbidity and mortality among affected and displaced population Strengthening health promotion, protection and intervention, including MCH and reproductive health services Support effective management of non-communicable diseases and mental health services (SECTOR) (UNICEF) FUNDING NEEDS 432,480 238,500 37,245,395 540,600 103,500 17,645,439 5,500,000 1,500,000 10,067,400 TOTAL FUNDINGREQUIREMENTS FOR TURKEY: 64,958,235 OBJECTIVES EGYPT (SECTOR) (UNICEF) FUNDING NEEDS EDUCATION Access to education opportunities (formal and non-formal); Quality education in protective learning environments 185,000 23,000 4,000,000 PROTECTION Child protection interventions for boys and girls are strengthened with a particular focus on children at risk Refugees fleeing Syria are able to access the territory, seek asylum and have their basic rights respected 50,560 25,000 3,255,000 HEALTH Improve access, quality and coverage to comprehensive primary health care for Syrian refugees in Egypt Polio NIDs 3 rounds 200,000 12,800,000 120,000 12,800,000 553,000 8,267,400 TOTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR EGYPT: 16,075,400 13