Syria Crisis Situation Update (Issue 53)

Conflict is increasingly encroaching on UNRWA camps with shelling and clashes continuing to take place near to and within a number of camps. A reported 6 Palestine Refugees (PR) were killed in Syria this week as a result and 5 seriously injured, highlighting their unique vulnerability, with refugee camps often theatres of war. At least 44,000 PR homes have been damaged by conflict and over 50% of all registered PR are now displaced, either within Syria or to neighbouring countries.

Approximately 235,000 refugees are displaced in Syria with over 200,000 in Damascus, around 6600 in Aleppo, 4300 in Lattakia, 3000 in Hama, 6400 in Homs and 13,100 in Dera’a. 71,037 PR from Syria (PRS) have approached UNRWA for assistance in Lebanon (63,100) and Jordan (7937 (+86 from last week)). UNRWA is tracking reports of PRS in Egypt, Turkey, Gaza and UNHCR reports up to 1000 fled to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

1. SYRIA

Displacement

UNRWA is sheltering over 8160 Syrians (+155 from last week) in 19 Agency facilities. Of this 6854 (84%, +50 from last week) are PR (see table 1). This follows a fairly constant trend since April ranging from 8005 to a high of 8400 in May. The number of IDPs in UNRWA facilities has not varied greatly since the beginning of the year with the lowest figure 7571 recorded in early January. A further 4219 PR (-3 from last week) are being sheltered in ten non-UNRWA facilities in Aleppo, Lattakia and Damascus. In addition, nearly 18,000 PR have been identified or approached UNRWA in different camps having fled from other areas in Syria:

3004 in Hama Camp from Yarmouk and Ein el Tal;
6420 in Homs Camp having fled Aleppo, Damascus and Homs countryside; and
4318 in Lattakia camp having fled from Yarmouk and Ein el Tal.

The Agency continues to provide regular food, NFI and health assistance to registered and known PR if they have approached the Agency whether they are in UNRWA or non-UNRWA facilities.

Situation summary

6 PR killed in Yarmouk Refugee Camp as result of shelling, 4 over the weekend alone including the son of UNRWA staff member; 4 PR children seriously injured by shells in SET ZAYNAB/Mzerieb camps; an old PR lady shot and injured allegedly by a sniper in HUSSEINIYAH.
Intensive clashes and shelling all weekend in Sit Zeynab camp with reports of the military pushing their way into some parts of the camp and controlling a large part of the camp; Reports of looting of houses in Husseiniyeh camp over the weekend.
Area and Field Offices in Damascus operational all week with most staff attending.
13 UNRWA staff being detained or have been reported missing and 20 vehicles stolen.
Staff member detained in DAMASCUS Monday and released Wednesday, apparently a case of mistaken identity; Saturday a staff supervisor in an IDP center detained in LATTAKIA camp. Three such incidents in 2 weeks. Aggressive behavior from opposition forces towards two UNRWA area staff members travelling from LATAKIA to ALEPPO particularly related to them being Palestinians.
Early week armed opposition occupied an UNRWA Health Center in EIN ET TEL and took instruments from the laboratory; 20 medicine boxes lost from 4 trucks going from LATAKYA to DAMASCUS.
Report of an IED in BARAMKEH, DAMASCUS on Thursday targeting Deputy Minister of Labor and injuring him seriously. Reports of a VBIED found and disarmed Wednesday evening in MEZZAH area.

2. Humanitarian Response

Syria

Education

Around 26,000 out of 67,000 PR students are being reached. 49 out of 118 UNRWA schools are operational with many PR students also enrolled in government schools;
Self-learning materials being developed for students out not able to attend school;
Psycho-social support courses for 75 staff. 35 psycho-social counselors being recruited;
Summer education classes ongoing for grades 1-8 with 5300 PR students;
Agreement with Government to use 20 government buildings as schools in safer areas;
79% of eligible students recently enrolled for Grade 9 examinations;
Relocated students in grades 9 & 12 from Yarmouk, Neirab and Ein Al Tal camps to safer places to prepare for and take the government exams. UNRWA provided accommodation, food, hygiene kits and assistance for preparation including psycho-social support;
Vocational short courses being prepared for Aleppo and Damascus in a range of fields with such courses ongoing in Dera’a, Hama, Homs and Lattakia. Youth engagement activities being extended.

Health

Health centres: a number resupplied access challenges. Five health centres fully operational and one partially in Damascus area; Homs HC re-open;
Health points: 4 working regularly; 1 being expanded and 2 more being opened;
Medical supplies: stock received for next 12 months of which 4 months distributed to each area except Aleppo due to the situation there. Waiting for next humanitarian convoy to the city;
Hospitalisation: started reimbursements of non-contracted hospital bills and arranged for all PR in Syria to access health centres anywhere;
Surveillance of infectious diseases: No outbreaks reported, vaccination working well, ongoing close cooperation with WHO and PRC; and
An increase in rates of psycho-social trauma, stress/anxiety disorders reported.

Relief

Cash assistance: 2^nd round distribution ongoing targeting 420,000 persons with USD42 per person; 71,000 so far received since June; Preparing plan for future cash distributions through multiple mechanisms to improve efficiency and reduce risks to beneficiaries and staff;
Food distributions: Dera’a (3000 persons) and Damascus/Rif Damascus (22000 persons); food basket distribution in 3 locations in Damascus/ Rif Damascus with additional 3 distribution points being prepared to open in 2 weeks; Tendering for local food procurement in Aleppo;
IDPs: Continuing to provide 2 meals per day (one cooked) to over 12,200 IDPs in 28 temporary collective shelters; tendering for iftar dinner for these; WATSAN and living conditions upgrades for the temporary collective shelters;
NFI distributions: As of 1 July, UNRWA has distributed food, mattresses, blankets and a variety of other essential non-food items to 115,809 individuals (30,896 families) in 2013.

Continuing work with Iraqi PR in Syria including regular counselling and visits in cooperation with UNHCR and their local partners.

UNRWA food and cash distributions in Syria cumulative as of 27 June 2013

UNRWA distributions in Syria in 2013 by location and type as of 27 June 2013

LEBANON

63,100 Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) have approached UNRWA for assistance in Lebanon, equivalent to around 18,300 families. They are located in Saida (31%), Beqaa (21%), the Beirut area (17%), Tyre (17%) and the north (14%).

Cash distributions: Planning for the next round of cash distributions which may be in September utilizing alternative modes of distribution if required and feasible.

Shelter: 11 shelter rehabilitations assessed and approved to provide housing to 88 families. Rehabilitation works being carried out for 4 shelters in Saida, 6 in Tyre and one in Central Lebanon. 7 other requests are under assessment. Recruited more sanitation workers and increased support for water networks in coordination with Popular Committees across the camps.

Education: Summer learning classes for PRS who have been out of school during the school year, scheduled to run until September. Emergency education programme for PRS ongoing including recruitment of 14 psychosocial counselors.

Health: Continue to deliver medical consultations and medications through UNRWAs 28 health centres. Health awareness sessions conducted during the PRS cash distribution in June and staff attended a health training workshop.

Protection: Monitoring and reporting officer stationed at border crossing to offer advice to PRS when they cross and report on concerns and flow of PRS. Continue to advocate with Lebanese Government for equal treatment of all refugees at the border.

JORDAN

25 more PRS families were recorded this week bringing the total to 1947 PRS families (7937 individuals) recorded by UNRWA in Jordan. 52% are female; 49% under the age of 18; and 30% of the families (576) are headed by women. 198 Palestinians reside in Cyber City, the government appointed facility in Irbid but the vast majority reside in communities with host families or in rental premises - mainly in Irbid, Zarqa and Amman - and are assessed to live in abject poverty (98% qualify for Social Safety Net status).

Education: Students are out of school for the summer. JFO participated in the training of school counselors to support the provision of psychosocial support to PRS students.

Health: From January to early June 6293 PRS individuals accessed healthcare in UNRWA clinics and government hospitals. UNRWA is extending its partnership agreement with the Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS) for the operation of a Primary Health Care Center in Cyber City until December 2013.

Relief: From 1 January to mid-June, 1317 PRS families (72% of families registered with UNRWA) received emergency assistance. Amounts, timing of distributions and delivery mechanisms are currently being reviewed to ensure that vulnerable PRS families can meet their essential needs.

Protection: UNRWA continues to work closely with the Government of Jordan to address a range of protection concerns for PRSs.

3. Security summary

Syria

Damascus / Rif Damascus:

Local media reported an IED detonating in the area of Baramkeh Thursday morning targeting the Deputy Minister of Labour and seriously injuring him. Further reports a VBIED was found and disarmed the same day in Mezzah area. There was one IED the previous Thursday so the number stayed constant this week.

Clashes and shelling continued in many areas of the city, including Douma, Yarmouk, Sbeineh, Husseiniyeh, Sit Zeynab and Khan Eshieh and particularly intensive in and around Jobar, Qaboun and Barzeh where all facilities remain closed. Intensive clashes and shelling all weekend and continuing in and around Set Zeynab camp with reports of the military pushing their way into some parts of the camp and controlling a large part of the camp. Sbeineh Camp remains cut off by security forces with opposition groups still in the area. Less than 5% of residents remain and no UNRWA staff. Reports over the weekend of looting of houses in Husseiniyeh camp.

Some shells impacted the camps causing the deaths of at least 6 PR in Yarmouk and serious injury to 3 PR children. An old PR lady was reportedly shot and injured allegedly by a sniper in Husseiniyeh later in the week following similar reports of alleged sniper killings of 3 PR the previous week. Limited facilities are available in the camps due to the nature of the conflict and accessibility of UNRWA staff.

Sporadic and intermittent clashes in and around Yarmouk refugee camp throughout the week intensifying later in the week and weekend. A number of shells impacted in the camp killing at least 6 PR, 4 over the weekend alone, including the son of an UNRWA staff member. This is a rise from 3 the previous week. Sporadic clashes around the northern entrance which is closed periodically by security forces who heavily restrict access to the camp. Less than 30% of camp residents remain (approx. 20,000 PR), all health centres unable to operate since January 2013 and all facilities remain closed. Many refugees there are extremely vulnerable and have limited or no flight options outside the camp. Armed opposition groups remain in the camp. The violence stayed at similar levels to the previous week.

Aleppo: Intensive hostilities with clashes and shelling started early week and subsided into sporadic/ intermittent shelling. Intensive clashes and shelling in Bustan Al Qaser area over the weekend but the office was operational throughout the week. Ein el Tal remains empty of refugees except a small number that visit to retrieve belongings and armed opposition groups continue to control the area. Neirab Camp and surrounding areas remained relatively calm as in the previous week. The camp remains accessible and all facilities are operational, providing shelter to 121 Syrian IDPs in three schools.

Dera’a: Intermittent shelling night and day continued from the previous week south of the town and near the camp with a few shells impacting in the camp without injuries. Sporadic clashes in the week and intensive clashes over the weekend in Al Mahata and Al Kashef area where UNRWAs warehouse is located. The office remained closed as in the previous week with essential operations continuing from alternative locations in and around the camp and another location being refurbished. Mzerieb relatively calm for most of the week with sporadic shelling later in the week. Some shells impacted the fringe of the camp and village leaving a child injured but most facilities were operational. Jillien relatively calm most of the week except for shelling heard in the distance. Themain road remains blocked but refugees can access the village via a side road. The border to Jordan remains technically open but is still inaccessible due to insecurity along the route, as in previous weeks.

Homs: Sporadic shelling early week decreased mid-week then intensified significantly at the end of the week and over the weekend in the city centre, Khaldyeh and the Old City. UNDSS continues to suspend UN operations in the city including missions to and from it. The camp (to the south of the city) remained relatively calm all week as in the previous week but most facilities were closed later in the week due to the military operations and UNDSS advice. The situation continued somewhat with the previous week and was an improvement on 2 weeks ago with no airstrikes reported. Hama and Lattakia: Both towns and camps continued relatively calm throughout the week and weekend with all facilities in both camps operational, showing no change from the previous week. All roads in Homs and to Hama are blocked.

Lebanon & Jordan

NSTR

Table 1: Number of PR and Syrian IDPs in UNRWA facilities as of 7 July:

Area	F	M	Children	Total
Damascus Training Centre	383	425	527	1335
Damascus (Jaramana Camp)	484	414	878	1776
Damascus (Mezzeh)	167	144	227	538
Damascus (Khan Eshieh Camp)	65	63	67	195
Damascus (Ramadan Camp)	298	365	626	1289
Damascus (Dummar)	111	136	269	516
Damascus (Rukn Eddin)	171	141	267	579
Damascus (Khan Dannoun Camp)	384	361	690	1435
Damascus (Al Qaboun)	35	40	56	131
Aleppo	45	56	20	121
Hama	11	6	22	39
Lattakia	57	57	92	206
Total	2211	2208	3741	8160

Please note: information in this report comes from a range of sources including open-source material. It may therefore be incomplete or contain inaccuracies. It is focused on UNRWAs areas of operation so may not reflect the overall situation in Syria and/ or areas where UNRWA is not active. Some information may be sensitive so you are requested to treat it with discretion and confidentiality.

Two UNRWA students from Gaza enjoy recess in their first day of school. © 2017 UNRWA Photo by Rushdi Al-Saraj

Help send a Palestine refugee child to school

Donate

You are here

Syria Crisis Situation Update (Issue 53)