ECHO CRISIS REPORT

Period covered
13/07/2012 to 30/07/2012

SYRIA CRISIS

SITREP N12

1. Map

Time of validity
12:00 (UTC)

ECHO Field Office

Damascus - SYRIA

Number of people affected (OCHA)

Population affected: 1.500.000 (est.)

Number of refugees and/or internally displaced persons (IDPs)

Total refugees in neighbouring countries (registered): 120,000 (UNHCR) estimated IDPs: 1,000,000

Number of dead (Syrian Observatory of Human Rights )

20,000

Number of wounded (source)

N/A

2. ECHO Recommendations / action

INSIDE SYRIA The past two weeks have shown increasing challenges for the international humanitarian community to maintain an appropriate response while the security situation was deteriorating. Too centralised, humanitarian activities slowed down when Damascus was hit. Severely constrained by security regulations, UN agencies had to develop alternatives to ensure the continuation of their relief activities in such a volatile environment. Even the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), benefiting from the best acceptance and operational capacities could not operate for more than a week when fighting was taking place inside Damascus.

ECHO Emergency Contact Tel.: +32 2 29 22222 Fax: +32 2 29 90525 echo-mic@ec.europa.eu

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 Decentralizing operations and logistical capacities is critical: security permitting, scaling up of field offices and regional hubs should be considered as the top priorities for all international aid agencies; The bulk of the response is provided by national and local actors. Training of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) personnel, local Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs) is more than ever needed; Reflecting on remote management good practices, drawing lessons from past experiences such as the Iraqi crisis, and proposing adapted tools are necessary; Aid agencies need to be sufficiently funded to carry out their most needed emergency operations. This is not yet the case. OUTSIDE SYRIA From April 2012 to 12 July , the number of refugees (registered or receiving assistance) in the region jumped from 40,000 to 120,000 (source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR). Over the past 100 days, an average of 830 people per day has crossed the borders neighboring Syria. Lebanon Humanitarian donors need to ensure adequate support to UNHCR so as to avoid disruption of access to emergency health services for the Syrian refugees. UNHCR and health partners need to ensure that refugees and local health professionals are informed that support to emergency secondary health care is maintained; In parallel to emergency support, shelter remains by far the most problematic sector. Jordan It is urgent to upgrade the living conditions in Zaatari camp where Syrian refugees are being relocated from the cramped transit sites in Ramtha.

3. Situation
INSIDE SYRIA In Damascus, following a week of intense fighting inside the city from 15 to 23 of July, combats have ceased in the center where the regime has managed to regain control of most of the restive areas. However, daily clashes and bombardments have continued however in many neighborhoods of the capital (Qabun, Harasta, Midan, Qudseia). There has been a heavy military presence, including tanks, positioned in sensitive parts of the city such as Kafr Susseh or Mezzeh. The situation remains volatile. Recent attacks against Yarmouk Palestinian camp in Damascus have raised the concern that Palestinians might be drawn into the conflict. Already, tens of thousands of Palestine refugees are believed to be displaced in the country. In Aleppo, intense fighting has developed over the past days. The Syrian army has gathered important around the city to start a massive military operation with devastating effects on the remaining population. Fighting is reported as well in most of the main urban centers of the country including shelling in all or part of the cities. Homs, Idlib, Daraa, Deir Ezzor have suffered from daily bombardments as well as secondary cities such as Rastan, Talbiseh (Homs), Zakat, Latamneh (Hama), or Zabadani. Over the past two weeks, the Syrian army increasingly used air support. The issue of the Third Country Nationals (TCN) is growing in importance as well. The International Organization for Migrations (IOM) estimates that 120,000 TCNs are living in

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Syria and could be in need of support to flee from a conflict torn environment. Most of them are low skilled labor workers whose passports are being held by their employers. Overall, there is a massive displacement of people inside and outside the country. The operational capacities of the humanitarian community have been disrupted. OUTSIDE SYRIA Lebanon A steady degradation of the situation at the border with Syria has been noticed over the past weeks with repeated incidents in Wadi Khaled, Arsal and Mashari El Qaa. The multiplication of incidents has fueled tensions in an already difficult political and social climate. It has contributed to an increasing local fatigue of accommodating Syrian families and a growing feeling that support is only going to refugees while the local population is not only affected by the situation but is also sharing the burden of supporting them. Easing the tension in supporting the host communities is becoming increasingly important. Following the massive bombing of Wednesday 18 July in Damascus, there was a sudden and significant influx of Syrians who legally crossed into Lebanon. On Thursday 19 July only, UNHCR reported about 18,000 people crossing the border. Most arrivals are families from Damascus who proceeded beyond Bekaa, mainly to Beirut and Mont Lebanon. The profile of the refugees is evolving by the day. If on Thursday 19, the vast majority was coming with their own car and was assessed to be self-sufficient, the last days saw poorer families coming. An estimated 10% of all arrivals have stayed in the Bekaa where 1,500 people have been identified to be in need of assistance. In Wadi Khaled and El Qaa, arrivals (most of them illegal) are more difficult to monitor. However, reports from Arsal indicate that the number of newly arrived families increased. Local partners report over 500 families (2,500 persons) in South Lebanon and the media reports that hotels in Bhatroun and Aley are now totally occupied by Syrians. Several analysts believe that a large number of families just transited through Lebanon to resettle in Syria, in areas inaccessible from within. On 26 July, 31,596 Syrians were registered in Lebanon: 11,000 in the Bekaa, 18,749 in the North and few hundreds in Tripoli. UNHCR estimates that an additional 500 families are still to be registered in the Bekaa to complete the first registration round. Jordan The arrival of Syrians, which was already high since the beginning of July, has steadily increased in the last days bringing the total figure in the transit sites in Ramtha to 7,421 on 26 July. This is more than 4 times the absorption capacity of the sites. Exasperation is growing in the Transit Centers and requires an immediate response. The problem is compounded by the instruction of the government to stop the bailing-out system1, a decision that became effective on 19 July. Refugees are now being relocated to Zaatari camp. The camp will have an extension capacity of 130,000 people. Turkey As of 23 July, the population in the camps in Turkey was 43,564. Since 25 July the 13 border gates with Syria have been closed for commercial traffic. However, the Government of Turkey confirmed that the closure would not affect the open borders policy for asylum seekers coming from Syria. Two separate incidents were reported in the camps. In Kilis the introduction of a new food distribution system caused discontent among camp residents that turned into a violent protest. In Islahiye, the incident had to do with the recent arrival of a group of around

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500 Syrian Turkmen. Their integration in the camps was contested by the majority of Sunni Arabs resulting in a riot and the assault to the main camp facilities. Both incidents did not last long and were settled quickly by the police. Iraq On 18 July, the government of Iraq called on its nationals present in Syria to come home. Teams of the Iraqi Red Crescent Society were at the borders to facilitate the process. On 23 July, in a drastic shift in policy, the Iraqi Prime Minister ordered the borders to be opened and to welcome Syrians fleeing violence in Syria via three border points, namely: Al-Waleed, Al-Quein and Rabyeh. The following day, the Iraqi government requested UNHCR to set up camps for Syrians. A first camp in Al-Waleed was rehabilitated and opened as a joint effort of UNHCR and the Government of Iraq. Two other camps might be established close to Al-Quein and Rabyeh crossing points. The open border announcement and the facilitation of the flight and buses by the government of Iraq led to the arrival of more than 10,000 Iraqi returnees. Returnees are screened by UNHCR and stay in areas around the borders (not their city of origin), hence adding to the existing 1.5 million IDPs in Iraq. As of 26 July the total Iraqi registered refugees currently in Syria was 87,000 people. Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) maintained an open border policy welcoming Syrians of Kurdish origins only. 8,445 Syrians of Kurdish origin have been registered to date, out of which 6,028 are single men. 2,540 individuals are hosted in Domiz Camp where services continue to be provided, including the issue of residency permits. Increased needs of psychosocial nature are being reported. Almost 6,000 Syrians of Kurdish origin are residing outside Domiz camp. Support is only provided inside the camp as per the instruction of the authorities. Syrian-Palestinians continue to be refused access into Iraq.

4. Aid and assistance required / needs assessment

INSIDE SYRIA The developing violence and the highly volatile situation led to the displacement of large numbers of people. It is assumed that large parts of the population of the most affected areas and cities have moved away, seeking a more protective environment. As a working assumption, the UN propose to consider that 10% of the 10 million people living in the 188 most affected locations have moved away. That more than one million people are currently displaced should be considered a conservative estimate. Large-scale destructions and ongoing insecurity are hindering the capacity of these people to go back. Nevertheless, with the developing violence in Damascus, the ICRC estimates that hundreds of families have recently returned from there to Homs. Protection of civilians and emergency medical response remain absolute imperatives. Shelters have become a priority as well inside Syria following massive displacements. Rents have gone up rapidly in the most preserved areas. Many displaced are hosted in schools and mosques: following the recent fighting in Damascus, 12,000 persons have taken shelter in schools. Between 25 and 40 schools were made available inside Damascus and 60 more in Rural Damascus where people need drinkable water, basic NonFood Items (NFIs) and food. Due to harsh conditions, many displaced are willing to go back as soon as they can but insecurity and massive destruction prevent many to head back to their homes in the most affected neighborhoods and cities. Support to livelihood is another priority, considering the increase in prices, shortages of water, fuel and cooking gas. Initiatives to develop cash grants (UNHCR) are considered as

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one of the best ways to support the most affected families. At the same time, provision of food remains a must for the biggest part of the population, more than half of which are located in Homs, Damascus, Rural Damascus and Aleppo Governorates. World Food Program (WFP) and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) consider that up to 3 million Syrians could be food insecure. Reports about violent incidents of a sectarian nature are on the increase. OUTSIDE SYRIA Lebanon Disruption of medical assistance in North Lebanon: following the interruption of the Lebanese High Relief Committee (HRC) support to health care for the refugees in northern Lebanon, several refugees were refused access to care. The message that continuity of services was secured by UNHCR had not been conveyed to local health professionals. It is critical to inform refugees and health professionals that support to emergency access to secondary health care is maintained. While an important number of refugees are still not registered, a large part of the assistance is provided by local organizations supported by Arab donors (e.g. in Tripoli, the Syrian Committee supported by Qatar offers a 100-bed clinic providing post-operative care for discharged wounded patients). Similar initiatives exist in all sectors but they are not included in the regular coordination mechanism. This lack in coordination distorts the understanding of the scope of assistance available for refugees. The important scale of the local assistance would require additional efforts to include it in both, the coordination mechanisms and the documents reflecting the needs of the refugees. In parallel to emergency support to new arrivals, shelter remains by far the most problematic sector with the need to prioritize activities along the necessity to winterize and provide sanitation to families living in unfinished houses or tents, and the necessity to provide assistance to the increased number of highly vulnerable families paying rents. While efforts are being made to focus assistance on these priorities, UNHCR needs to quickly develop a strategy paper on shelter to define the priorities and agree on common approaches. Jordan As of 26 July 36,600 refugees were registered with UNHCR, while over 50,000 had been identified as in need of assistance by local charities. As a consequence of the recent influx of Syrians fleeing the intensification of the conflict, the 4 transit camps are cramped and living conditions are deteriorated. The occupancy on 25 July was: Beshabshe: 2,277 people (capacity: 600). This transit camp is located in the middle of a neighborhood in Ramtha and the tensions between refugees and the local population have increased in recent days, requiring at times the intervention of the police. The plan is to close this site definitively and transfer people to Zaatri as soon as the minimum facilities (water, toilets and tents) are installed. Stadium: 301 single men. The conditions in the stadium, which continues to hold sports events regularly, are not suitable for sheltering refugees in spite of the assistance provided by the aid community. It was closed for some days a month ago but had to be reopened as the King Abdullah Park got overcrowded very soon after being inaugurated. The authorities and UNHCR want also to close it down and transfer people to Zaatri camp. King Abdullah Park (KAP): 4,374 people (capacity: 900). The WASH and shelter facilities (containers) are acceptable but the camp population exceed almost 5 times the intended capacity. KAP is being used now as first entry point instead of Beshabshe. Since 23 July the Jordanian army is transporting the Syrian refugees from the border crossing points to KAP directly. A record of 1,233 entered on 24 July and 838 on 25 July. Many people are sheltering outside the containers, under the shade of big covers installed to protect from the extreme heat. The Jordanian Health Aid Society (JHAS) and the

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International Organization for Migration (IOM) clinics are overwhelmed. The plan of the government is to maintain KAP as the first entry camp for registration. Ciber City: 452 individuals (93 families) of whom 157 are Palestinians (UNWRA) are not allowed to leave the camp. Water and sanitation conditions have improved. Recreational activities are organized for children, including the daily transportation by bus of all children (Palestinians included) to a summer school in town. The JHAS clinic is now installed in a container with air-conditioning and is sufficiently equipped and staffed. Zaatri: The plot allocated for the camp is a desert land where extreme high temperatures and the dust are a big challenge. Officially inaugurated on 29 July, the objective is to increase the capacity of the camp to 25,000 people. If UNHCRs worst case scenario materializes, by the end of the year the camp may have to host as much as 130,000 people, reaching its full planned capacity.

5. Local response
INSIDE SYRIA The bulk of the response has been provided by local organizations (supported, or not, by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC)). Solidarity amongst Syrians has remained by far the main channel of assistance to the displaced people, though the magnitude of the displacement has overwhelmed the capacities of national solidarity and international support is dearly needed. SARC branches have been confronted with severe logistical constraints at the peak of the crisis as they could not replenish their stocks from Damascus. So far it remained possible to purchase locally in the area of Aleppo, though the current deterioration of the situation in the commercial city has made this option obsolete. OUTSIDE SYRIA Lebanon Concomitant to the significant influx of Syrian families, the Prime Minister made an important policy change in mandating the Ministry of Social Affairs to provide assistance to the Syrian refugees while the High Relief Committee (HRC) remained in charge of supporting the Lebanese and the wounded. On Saturday 21 July, the Minister of Social Affairs called for the international community to support the Lebanese government with $115 million. While local NGOs and Municipalities remain very active in providing assistance to the refugees, the national authorities are facing more difficulties to ensure continuous assistance. The recent disruption of support of the HRC is raising critical issues for the increased number of refugees to access health services. Jordan The Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO) has been mandated by the Government of Jordan to take charge of Camp management in Zaatri, with the support of UNHCR. Turkey The assistance provided by the Turkish authorities (through the Governors of Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis and Sanliurfa, the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent) continues to be very generous. All humanitarian needs are covered but in view of the exponential influx of Syrians since late June, the Government of Turkey has approached the UN (UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF) to request technical assistance. The government has announced that two to three new sites may be established, in addition to upgrading the existing ones, bringing the total capacity to up to 80,000 refugees in total.

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Iraq UNHCR is enhancing the preparedness of reception centers in the three illegal crossing sites to have the following capacity: Al-Waleed for 1,000 people, Al-Quein for 3,000 people and Rabyeh for 1,000 people. The capacity of Domiz camp in Kurdistan can be extended to host up to 10,000 people.

6. International response
INSIDE SYRIA The degradation of the situation in Damascus has limited the response capacity of the international humanitarian community. Confronted with an extremely volatile environment, all aid agencies (UN, INGOs, Red Cross movement) reduced the number of international staff inside Damascus. For days, no assistance could be provided to a population immediately affected by the ongoing fighting. As soon as the level of violence reduced, initiatives were taken to provide first relief to the population. While dearly needed, the scope of the response had remained largely insufficient to cover the needs: - the ICRC was the first international agency to provide emergency support in the most affected areas : food, non-food and water; - Premiere Urgence (PU) organized water trucking to relieve some of the schools where displaced people had gathered. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) did the same to support the affected populations in Yarmouk camp with 50,000 liters of water. Generally, the capacity to respond has been largely hindered by security restrictions: most of the international staff of UN agencies were evacuated. Those of the UN personnel remaining were confined in a hotel. At the same time, and since 23 July, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the International Medical Corps (IMC), and Action Contre la Faim (ACF-SP) have started sending back their international staff to provide emergency assistance to the displaced. The ICRC, with 12 delegates left in the country, has remained the agency with the best response capacity. As soon as the security improved in Damascus, relief operations resumed to support displaced people with food and non-food items in the collective shelters of Rural Damascus or with water in al-Nabaq, that keep on receiving more internally displaced people (IDPs). At the peak of the crisis, most of the supply routes were cut off, hindering the capacity of the humanitarian community to provide relief in the provinces. The recent crisis in Damascus has revealed the imperative necessity to accelerate the decentralization of the humanitarian set up. Setting up logistical hubs and scaling up field antennas in the North and the East of the country are top priorities. If it remains premature to open UN antennas in Idlib, Homs or Daraa due to security constraints, the strengthening of existing field offices in Hassake, Deir Ezzor, Aleppo, Tartous,and Daraa to support multi-sectorial operations is a priority. While UN agencies are confronted with severe security restrictions, the involvement of INGOs in support of the Syrians constitutes an indispensable alternative: DRC is already operating in Daraa, PU is planning to open an office in Tartous, ACF is present in Hassake. The European Commission mobilized an extra 20 million from the EU budget to support emergency relief operations in Syria and the neighboring countries. Over the past 6 months, DG ECHO dedicated 40 million to the provision of humanitarian aid, in addition to 31.52 million from EU Member States. In spite of these efforts, the magnitude of the

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needs urgently requires additional efforts and Commissioner Georgieva continues to raise funding to support the efforts of ECHO partners in Syria.

OUTSIDE SYRIA Jordan International aid agencies are under pressure to respond to the needs of increased number of refugees. As a result of the end of the bailing-out system of Syrian families allowing their integration into local communities, the opening of Zaatri camp means that the assistance now falls onto the shoulders of UN and NGO partners. In order to facilitate planning and the provision of the assistance, the camp will be divided in modules of 5,000 people. UNICEF has started to approach NGO partners to cover the WASH needs by modules. The water bladders, toilets and shower units for the first modules are being installed by the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). UNHCR has so far erected over 1,800 tents and a rub hall for the storage of relief supplies. In the transit camps, the INGO Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) deals with rapidly increasing WASH needs. The UNHCR implementing partner, JHAS, and other international organizations are overstretched to provide health care to the newly arriving refugees, many of them in deteriorating health conditions after the long and hazardous trip from their homes in Syria. Regarding the assistance to Palestinians from Syria, UNRWA coordinates with local authorities, UN agencies and other organizations already providing services in the various facilities in Ramtha. Where there are gaps in service provision, UNRWA provides supplementary support to ensure that those gaps are filled. UNWRA maintains a permanent presence in Ciber City where most of the Palestinians are confined and is rejecting any distinction made in the treatment provided to Syrian refugees, be they of Palestinian origin or not.

7. On-site coordination mechanism

INSIDE SYRIA With the increased involvement of INGOs in the response to Syrians affected by the crisis, coordination mechanisms need to be more inclusive. Over the past days, reduced UN teams left only one OCHA international staff member inside Syria with limited capacity to organize proper coordination. OUTSIDE SYRIA Coordination initiatives took place outside the country and were welcomed, such as the briefings provided in Amman by both the Regional Humanitarian and Refugee Coordinators, the organization of contingency planning exercises at regional level, or the regular release of OCHA Bulletins. The Syria Humanitarian Forum held in Geneva on 16 July stressed the rapidly increasing needs and the drastic lack of funding, hindering the capacity of humanitarian actors to deploy large scale operations. With the rapidly deteriorating situation, Response Plans will soon be outdated in terms of needs and numbers. Over the past 100 days, an average of 830 people per day crossed the borders from Syria to neighboring countries, raising very high concerns in terms of absorption capacities and humanitarian response. At the current pace, the working figure of 185,000 refugees in the region will be reached rapidly.

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8. Other information

1.

OVERVIEW OF EU HUMANITARIAN AND CIVIL PROTECTION RESPONSE TO DATE (FINANCIAL AND IN KIND, ON THE BASIS OF EDRIS 2011 - 2012) EU Member States and ECHO contributions to unrest in Syria as indicated in EDRIS 2011 2012 * Donor Commitments in EDRIS Total (cash and in-kind) Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark ECHO Estonia France Finland Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Poland Spain Sweden United Kingdom Total EU 280.000 2.000.000 257.232 3.268.180 40.000.000 100.000 2.600.000 1.800.000 7.301.716 50.000 46.756 500.000 47.000 500.000 3.000.000 352.568 405.852 9.297.933 2.392.917 75.051.613 851.459 793.459 58.000 Details of In-kind (Assistance) Main items

* The most recently announced funding allocations by EU Member States are not yet reflected in this table

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