SYRIA AND IRAQ SITUATIONS REGIONAL WINTER ASSISTANCE PROGRESS REPORT (Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt) UNHCR THEMATIC UPDATE UNHCR and camp management representatives provide winter items to a family in Adiyaman camp in Sanliurfa province, Turkey. UNHCR/K. Porteous With winter at its peak in December, UNHCR continued to strengthen its support for thousands of Syrian and Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Middle East. As of December, UNHCR has distributed winter core relief items (CRI) to more than 597,600 Syrian refugees and over 463,000 Syrian IDPs in the region and cash assistance for the winter months was provided to 875,313 Syrian refugees. Overall, 67 per cent of the total Syrian refugees and IDPs identified for UNHCR winter support have received assistance. UNHCR also provided winter CRIs to 16,948 Iraqi refugees and 284,914 Iraqi IDPs, and cash assistance to 45,195 Iraqi refugees. Furthermore, 207,570 Iraqi IDPs received kerosene or cash for heating fuel. Nearly 47 per cent of the total Iraqi refugees and IDPs identified for UNHCR winter support have received assistance. UNHCR is grateful to the Governments, charities and other organizations for their contributions, which have helped UNHCR to significantly increase its original planning figures for winter 2015-2016 assistance. 1
SYRIA SITUATION UNHCR s regional winter plan for the Syria situation will address the winter needs of 2.6 million Syrians (1.6 million refugees and 1 million IDPs). REFUGEE AND IDP PLANNING FIGURES AND DISTRIBUTION FOR UNHCR WINTER ASSISTANCE (INDIVIDUALS) 2
SYRIA As of 14 December, a total of 373,003 individuals, corresponding to 73,784 families, were assisted with winter supplementary items (not all beneficiaries were assisted with the entire winter package as the items are distributed based upon the need). The items were distributed to IDPs in Aleppo, Damascus, Rural Damascus, Hama, Al-Hasakeh, Quneitra, Dar a, Tartous and Lattakia governorates. For cross-border from Jordan, UNHCR is continuing its distribution of winter CRIs including hygiene kits. As of 14 December, 9,500 kits were distributed in central and southern Dar a Governorate. A further 4,000 winter kits are planned for distribution in January 2016. The Jordan Hub Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Working Group continues to coordinate implementation of winter assistance. Further funding has been secured for winter assistance for an additional 1,245 families, bringing the total planned beneficiaries to over 155,000 in southern Syria, through a coordinated distribution by seven organizations. For cross-border from Turkey, 6,000 winter kits were distributed, reaching 30,000 newly displaced Syrians in the districts of Jebel Saman in Aleppo Governorate and Idleb in Idleb Governorate. Since the commencement of winter support in November until 14 December, a total of 42,500 IDPs have received winter-kits from cross-border interventions from Turkey. Although the priority planning figure of 24,000 households has been met, based on the urgent needs on the ground, UNHCR is continuing with the winter assistance. The new partnership with Care International has boosted the delivery of winter kits in Lattakia, Hama and Aleppo governorates. The fluid security situation precipitating IDP movements as well as the need to recommence the assessments had an adverse effect on the timely delivery of winter-items to IDPs. As of 14 December, a total of 415,503 people were reached in Syria through delivery of winter assistance by UNHCR Syria and from cross-border interventions from Jordan and Turkey. WEEKLY WINTER ASSISTANCE DISTRIBUTION TO IDPS (INDIVIDUALS) IN SYRIA (INCLUDING THROUGH CROSS-BORDER INTERVENTIONS) 70,188 66,730 70,997 28,755 52,099 42,689 33,789 50,256 08-20 Oct 21 Oct-02 Nov 03-09 Nov 10-16 Nov 17-23 Nov 24-30 Nov 01-07 Dec 08-14 Dec 8 October - 14 TURKEY As of 20 December, 272,517 sets of winter clothes, 55,123 pairs of winter boots, 273,109 high thermal blankets and 2,903 heaters were delivered to the camps for distribution by the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). The distribution is on-going on and as of December, AFAD has distributed 98,680 blankets, 10,689 winter clothes and 15,689 winter boots. As for the non-camp Syrian refugees, the vulnerability assessment is ongoing and as of 20 December a total of 2,360 households have received e-vouchers. 3
LEBANON More than 134,500 Syrian households have now received two months of winter cash assistance in the amounts of US$ 147 per month for those living above 500 metres, and US$ 100 per month for those living below 500 metres. The assistance will directly benefit more than half a million refugees in Lebanon and provide them with the means to cover the costs of keeping warm and dry during the winter months. UNHCR has made every effort to reach all refugees eligible for winter cash assistance. A two-way SMS verification process and individual calls reached 90 per cent of the beneficiaries holding cards from last year. Approximately 20 per cent of refugees have still not shown up to collect their cash cards, so outreach efforts continue. As of December, 6,500 families have received fuel cards in the area of Arsal. UNHCR and its partners are monitoring developments in Arsal and are conducting distributions of fuel cards when the security situation allows. Nearly 27,000 people, including refugees and vulnerable Lebanese, have received high thermal blankets and quilts. Distribution of high thermal blankets to vulnerable Lebanese will continue in coordination with the Government throughout Lebanon. High thermal blankets have been pre-positioned in 16 of Lebanon s 26 districts as contingency stock in the event of extreme winter storms. UNHCR has further signed an agreement with the World Food Programme (WFP) to support 5,000 extremely vulnerable Lebanese families through the National Poverty Targeting Programme (NPTP), directed by the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA). The identified recipients will receive US$ 30 per person per month via e-vouchers intended for food purchase. UNHCR will cover the transfer value for the four winter months. UNHCR has also worked with the NPTP to identify 53,000 Lebanese families to receive high thermal blankets. JORDAN The implementation of UNHCR s winter programme continued in December, bringing the total number of refugee families receiving winter cash assistance to 31,137. Since the start of the winterization exercise, 8,564 Syrian refugee families received a full package (US$ 103 per person) while 22,623 families received a half package (US$ 68). As reported in November, families who received over US$ 423 were provided cash in two distributions. Those who did not receive the full amount in November were provided with the remainder in December. Residents in Zaatari camp received unconditional vouchers in October and November to purchase gas refills. Nearly 100 per cent of the camp population (79,227 persons) benefited from the distributions and 79 per cent of the vouchers have been redeemed. In Azraq camp, heaters were provided to 1,494 new arrivals, while 10,449 persons benefitted from the distribution of gas cylinders/refills. Gas refills are provided to each refugee family twice per month throughout the winter months and the next distribution is planned for January. Unconditional winterization vouchers (US$ 14) were provided to 15,401 persons (100 per cent of the camp population) in December, and 93 per cent of the vouchers have been redeemed. UNHCR is also distributing high thermal blankets to vulnerable refugees across the country. More than, 13,300 persons received blankets in Azraq camp and nearly 4,400 blankets were provided to persons stranded in the berm. Beneficiary identification in urban areas is underway with the expectation that 45,000 persons will benefit. IRAQ UNHCR continues to coordinate with partners and local authorities in preparation for an integrated winter response. As of 19 December, UNHCR has distributed stoves and various other household items such as plastic sheets, blankets, and 4
kerosene jerry cans to nearly 13,000 refugee families in Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates. Distribution of winter CRIs is 97 per cent complete; 12,652 families have received winter household items. Distributions of kerosene began mid-november and UNHCR has reached 12,100 refugee families in Dahuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah governorates with 2,335,420 litres of kerosene. UNHCR has also begun distribution of cash for kerosene, distributing more than US$ 1,686,400 to 8,789 refugee families across Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah governorates. Kerosene distribution to refugees in Darashakran refugee camp in Erbil Governorate. UNHCR/O. Zhdanov EGYPT UNHCR assessed a total of 85,000 vulnerable refugees in need of assistance during the winter months. In coordination with UNICEF, delivery of winter assistance started in mid-december. While UNHCR provided unconditional cash assistance of US$ 42 per person to 61,000 Syrian refugees through the post office in three main cities (Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta), UNICEF provided unconditional cash to the remaining 24,000 Syrian refugees. UNHCR also provided regular monthly cash assistance for November and December in one time to over 31,000 Syrian refugees, to help the refugees to cope during the harsh winter months. Coordination meetings took place several times for information sharing and finalization of collective winter plans to avoid duplication of assistance and to optimize support. UNHCR is closely monitoring the provision of winter assistance through meetings with Partners, community and refugees as well as by conducting a post distribution monitoring exercise (PDM) specific to winter assistance. Information on winterization grants was disseminated through the different social media platforms and a special short information video was produced. A number of posters and note books were also printed and distributed. 5
IRAQ SITUATION UNHCR s winter plan for the Iraq situation will reach 700,000 Iraqis (almost 100,000 refugees and close to 600,000 IDPs). REFUGEE AND IDP PLANNING FIGURES AND DISTRIBUTION FOR UNHCR WINTER ASSISTANCE (INDIVIDUALS) 6
IRAQ The Government of Iraq has reportedly agreed to provide kerosene to an additional 200,000 IDP families, located primarily in the northern regions, with the Ministry of Oil agreeing to reduce the price by 90 per cent. Distribution has started in Dahuk Governorate reaching out to the IDPs in the camps, followed by the non-camp population. UNHCR complements the Government s kerosene distribution, and in December UNHCR distributed 3,139,800 litres of kerosene to more than 17,000 IDP families in Dahuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah governorates. Furthermore, UNHCR has distributed US$ 3,519,000 in cash to 17,595 families, in Dahuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah governorates to purchase kerosene. Distribution of supplementary kerosene for some 20,000 IDP families in Kirkuk, Anbar and Baghdad governorates will start in January 2016. UNHCR began distributing winter CRIs to vulnerable families on 12 October and, as of 19 December, UNHCR had distributed winter items including plastic sheets, heating stoves, kerosene jerry cans, and blankets to 44,661 families in Anbar, Baghdad, Basrah, Dahuk, Diyala, Erbil, Kirkuk, Missan, Ninewa, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah, Thi-Qar and Wassit governorates, including cash for winter items to 4,000 families. Winter CRI distribution across Iraq is over 46 per cent complete to the planning figure, reaching about 268,000 people (44,661 families). TURKEY Delivery of winterization packages has begun in the camps where Iraqi refugees reside. As of 20 December, 10,542 winter clothes, 13,796 high thermal blankets, and 300 heaters have been delivered to AFAD for further distribution. Distribution of winterization cash assistance to Iraqi refugees residing outside the camps has also begun. LEBANON UNHCR provided 1,300 Iraqi and other non-syrian refugee families with November and December winter cash assistance in addition to distributing more than 3,000 high thermal blankets. JORDAN A total of 2,121 Iraqi refugee families have received winterization cash, of which 769 families received a full package (US$ 103 per person) and 1,352 received a half package (US$ 68). In addition, 187 non-syrian/non-iraqi families received full packages while 174 non-syrian/non-iraqi families received half packages. Iraqis from the New Iraqi caseload as well as the remaining non-syrians and non-iraqis will receive cash assistance in January. UNHCR has decided to expand its winterization support to the entire non-syrian/non-iraqi caseloads which would increase the number of beneficiaries from 1,800 to 6,200 households. SYRIA Planned winter cash assistance was distributed together with the regular cash for food assistance for the month of November to all Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers, reaching 100 per cent of the winter planning figure. A total of 24,000 individuals, representing 8,000 families, were assisted with each family receiving US$ 273. Contacts: Clare Askew, Programme Officer, askew@unhcr.org, Tel: +962 6 5100460 Ext: 2304 Nini Gurung, Reporting Officer, gurungn@unhcr.org, Tel: +962 6 5100460 Ext: 2107 7