Humanitarian Situation and Response in Syria Meeting of the High - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Humanitarian Situation and Response in Syria Meeting of the High Level Group Geneva, 19 December 2013

Summary  Fierce fighting  Growing needs  Winter compounds suffering  Response grows but operational environment remains difficult and dangerous for humanitarian workers  Key developments in the 7 priority areas since the first HLG.

Fierce fighting continues to have devastating impact on civilian lives

Qalamoun Area: Oct-Dec 2013 35,000 people displaced 210,000 trapped in hard to reach areas • Intense fighting in Qalamoun area During the fighting, Hospital the Hospital in Der Atieh has been targeted and targeted (Der Atieh) SARC reported damages to its warehouse in Nabek. SARC Hostilities have further spread to Adra Umelya and warehouse damaged are likely to further intensify in the Southern (Nabek) Qalamoun area .

Growing needs, targets & funding requirements for 2014

Nearly one in two Syrians in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in 2014

Winter compounds suffering of the most vulnerable .

 Winter storm "Alexa" brought large amount of snow and cold temperatures to the region.  Some forecasts indicate that this may be the coldest winter in 100 years.  Most hard to reach areas are located at higher altitude (500mt and above), including:  Zabadani, Qalamoun, Eastern Goutha in Rural Damascus;  Afrin, Zahra and Nubl in Aleppo;  Rastan in Homs;  Khan Shailhun and IDP camps along the Turkish border, including Atmeh and Qah , in Idlib;  Salma and Rabeh in Lattakia  Hassakeh  Southern rural Dera'a

Response continues to grow but operational environment remains dangerous and difficult for humanitarian workers.

Response  In November, WFP delivered food for 3.3 million people out of 4 million targeted, 45 per cent of whom were in opposition-held and disputed areas. WFP hopes to reach its full target of 4 million people in December.  Around 4 million people have now received core relief items in 2013, including 140,000 people who have received thermal blankets and plastic sheeting from UNHCR in Aleppo, Hama, Homs, Idleb, Lattakia, Rural Damascus and Tartous.  More than 2.2 million children have been vaccinated against polio and 1.1 million children against MMR and measles . 2 nd round of the campaign started on 8 December.  Nearly 3.4 million people have been assisted through the distribution of medicines, supplies and equipment and more than 1.1 million have benefited from the delivery and distribution of medical kits .

Daily risks faced by humanitarian workers  Humanitarian workers continue to be killed in the line of duty.  On 3 December, one UNRWA teacher in Dera’a was killed, bringing the total number of humanitarian workers killed since March 2011 to 47 (14 UN staff, 32 SARC staff/volunteers, 1 NGO staff).  21 UN staff members remain in Government detention.  Since the crisis began, 176 public health workers have been killed, 116 injured and 33 kidnapped. On 26 November, the Syrian Ministry of Health announced that armed groups had executed 5 doctors, 4 nurses and 2 ambulance drivers in the Der Atieh Hospital in Rural Damascus.

Some progress in HLG priority areas, but advances uneven and much more remains to be done

Priority # 1 Access to besieged communities No progress

No besieged areas reached  No besieged areas have been accessed to date and requests for access to Moadamyeh, Eastern Ghouta, Nabul and Zahra, remain unanswered by the Government.  However, there have been two positive commitments (yet to be translated into action) regarding access to besieged areas :  Armed opposition groups in Eastern Goutha , including Liwa As-Sham, Qateb Usud Ullah, Liwa Shuhada Douma, Jeish al- islam, Security Committee of the Military Council (SNC), Islamic Union for Sham Soldiers, Ahrahman Brigade and others, issued a statement on 15 December committing to allow and protect all humanitarian aid/convoys inside Goutha .  The Governor of Homs has authorized a vaccination team to enter the Old City , but negotiations are on-going to identify the most suitable way to access the Old City .

Priority # 2 Cross-line access to hard-to-reach areas Some progress

Progress  Due to continued closure of crossing points, UN agencies undertaking airlift from Iraq to Qamishly (15-25 December).  WFP plans to airlift food to feed over 30,000 people for one month.  UNHCR plans to send some 300 metric tons of urgently needed relief items to help some 60,000 displaced people.  UNICEF is sending health kits, water and sanitation supplies to the displaced in northeast Syria.  Relief supplies imported through official crossing points in Lebanon and Jordan permitted to be transported directly to people in need.  Main road from Damascus to Homs reopened after nearly two months of fierce fighting.  Inter-agency convoy in December reached Khan Shaikhoun (Idlib), which had not received humanitarian assistance from the UN since the beginning of the crisis .  UNHCR reached Dahiyet al-Assad for first time with core relief items for 2,500 people recently displaced from Deir Atiyeh in Qalamoun area.

Challenges • In December only one inter-agency cross-line convoy took place. Several planned convoys have not taken place, including: • Al Houla (opposition-controlled, Homs): despite the green light of the Governor of Homs, the Security Committee disputed the number of people to be provided with assistance (only 2,500 households versus the 10,000 households planned). • Jasem (opposition-controlled, Dera’a ): MOFA officially approved the convoy but the Governor overruled the decision and the convoy is on hold. • Nabek (contested, Rural Damascus): No response from MOFA. • Continued fragmentation of armed oppositions . • Road network remains difficult and unpredictable . • Despite Government approval for opening of Yaroubya crossing (Iraq), it remains closed due to insecurity . • Access via border crossing points not controlled by the Government remains a red line .

Priority # 3 Demilitarization of schools and hospitals No progress

 At least 20 hospitals and an unknown number of schools remain occupied by armed forces and/or armed groups, with no respect for the civilian character of the premises.  A draft statement has been prepared for signature by parties to the conflict regarding respect for the civilian nature of facilities.

Priority # 5 Administrative Hurdles Some progress

Empowered Interlocutors Progress  Deputy Foreign Minister engaging with HC on humanitarian issues on a weekly basis.  Syria National Coalition nominated Suheir Atassi as empowered interlocutor. Challenges  No clear empowered interlocutors to negotiate humanitarian access for armed oppositions / lack of influence of designated interlocutor.  “Trouble shooter” on access issues yet to be appointed by Deputy Foreign Minister.

Visas Progress  More than 50 visas issued for UN staff and 19 for INGO staff following GoS announcement on 20 November. Challenges  No new visas issued for UNDSS. However, Deputy Foreign Minister Mekdad has committed to ERC to resolve issue immediately.  18 INGO visas pending and three INGOs (GVC, Merlin and NRC) yet to become operational due to lack of visas . DFM Mekdad has indicated NRC visas to be issued shortly.  No new visa procedures have been agreed for humanitarian staff.

Convoy process Progress  New procedure in place in Homs and Tartous whereby trucks checked and sealed by security officers at warehouses. UN agencies and INGOs compiled a list of warehouses for MOFA to expand system. Challenges  New and streamlined procedures for convoys not yet received in writing. System remains cumbersome.  Each UN field mission or convoys still requires: 1) request to MoFA 72 hours in advance.; 2) issuance of a facilitation letter by SARC following MoFA approval; 3) issuance of a facilitation letter by MoSA for issuance of a second facilitation letter.  Truck dispatches to SARC branches still require: 1) SARC facilitation letter; 2) MoSA facilitation letter.  In the case of medical assistance , a further letter issued by the Ministry of Health is required.  New challenge of local authorities rejecting central authorization of convoys e.g. Jasem.

Field Presence and Capacity Progress  UN moving forward with establishment of hubs in Aleppo and Qamishly .  Four additional INGOs (Care, Save the Children, Concern International, and World Vision International) have notified OCHA of their interest to work in Syria. Challenges  INGOs lack sufficient staff (24 int. staff in-country) and not authorized to work directly with NNGOs.  MOUs INGOs required to sign with SARC have many restricting clauses  Insufficient number of NNGOs in areas with high needs (only 3 new NNGOs approved since HLG)

Priority # 6 Funding Some progress

SHARP & RRP Progress  SHARP 74% funded (>$1 billion received of $1.4 billion requested)  RRP 70% funded ($2.1 billion received of $3 billion requested) Challenges  Record appeal for 2014: $6.5 billion for Syria crisis alone ($2.3 billion for SHARP; $4.2 billion for RRP)

Priority # 7 Humanitarian component of Geneva II Key asks and ground rules being developed