United Nations in Syrian Arab Republic

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Syria:

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05 February 2020

Giving children with a disability in Syria new hope

Damascus, Syria – In the crowded reception area of the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus, 13-year old Ali from Ar-Raqqa governorate waits for his name to be called. His father Jaseem waits patiently with him, optimistic that his son will receive the best possible treatment. Ali was injured during a bombardment of his area of Ein Issa city in north-east Syria two years ago while helping his father in their small shop. Shrapnel hit his leg and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors had no choice but to amputate his leg above the knee. Since then, he has been fitted with a series of artificial left legs to accommodate his growing body. The Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus is one of the WHO-supported public health centres providing free-of-charge prosthetic services. Since 2018, WHO has provided the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus and three specialized nongovernmental organizations in the governorates of Damascus and Aleppo with prosthetic components and manufacturing materials for the production of 600 artificial limbs, thanks to the generous financial support of the people of Japan. In 2019, WHO provided more than 13,642 physical rehabilitation sessions and supported almost 170 beneficiaries with artificial limbs through its contracted nongovernmental organizations. “May this centre remain forever,” said Jassem, smiling at his son. “We live almost 450 kilometers away, and we come to the centre many times each year. We’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices to find the money for travel costs, but this is the best prosthetics centre in the country,” he added. After a few minutes, a technician takes Ali to have his leg measured. Ali gets up from his seat with the help of his artificial limb and moves to the measuring room. He waits anxiously as he watches the technicians measure the limbs of other patients. He has outgrown his artificial limb and needs a new one fitted. After being fitted with his new leg, Ali gets up on his feet and dances in a circle, laughing and spinning with joy, his eyes expressing hope and confidence for a better future. “I’m 13 years old and in the sixth grade at school; I want to become a teacher when I grow up,” says Ali with determination and immense self-confidence. “My disability doesn’t hinder my daily activities. I go to school, help my father and I’m very keen on playing football; I can go for long walks with the help of my artificial limb,” he adds proudly. “Ali is just one of dozens of children that the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre helps every day. The centre provides free-of-charge rehabilitation services for all age groups, including the manufacturing of artificial limbs and physiotherapy” says Dr Rafif Dhieh, Head of the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Center at the Ministry of Health. “We thank WHO for its continuous support that allows us to help people who come to our centre from all over the country,” he adds. “WHO is keen to support the treatment of war injuries, especially for those who have lost their limbs, with a view to reviving their hope of leading a normal and productive life,” says Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative a.i. in the Syrian Arab Republic, before concluding: “In fact, WHO spares no effort to provide all possible support as part of its humanitarian work to alleviate the suffering of vulnerable people and to trigger a ray of hope for a better future”.

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15 July 2021

“My Hero is You” mental health campaign enhances resilience among parents and children in Syria

One in 10 people in Syria live with a mild to moderate mental health condition. Prolonged exposure to conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to strain the mental well-being of families. In response, WHO Syria and local nongovernmental organizations in Rural Damascus recently launched the “My Hero Is You” campaign, which aims to reduce anxiety and fear associated with COVID-19 among children, and enhance the ability of parents to effectively talk to children about their well-being. The pilot campaign reached 5000 children and included messages about how to cope with stress delivered through a colouring book. The book was adapted to the Syria context and is based on a children’s story, entitled “My Hero is You”, developed by WHO and other members of an United Nations inter-agency committee on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. The campaign also included the provision of psychosocial support sessions and focus group discussions, attended by 2000 parents, caregivers and health educators who discussed their concerns, coping mechanisms and support strategies for children experiencing stress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In recent years, there has been increasing acknowledgement of the role of mental health in people’s overall well-being and, especially, children’s development. In Syria, the conflict was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse economic impact, so the need to address mental health has become even more acute. Thus, our increased focus on mental health aims at listening to communities – to their fears, concerns and experiences of coping with COVID-19 - and empowering them with tools and skills to stay mentally resilient and adapt to a new normal,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative in Syria. The campaign, funded by the WHO Regional Solidarity Initiative, was made possible thanks to partnerships with Al-Tal and Al-Qutayfah nongovernmental organizations, members of which received training by WHO prior to the campaign launch. The training was based on the WHO global package and adapted to the Syrian context to tailor it to the current needs of community workers who provide basic psychosocial support services to parents and children. “I am proud to be part of the initiative through which I could teach parents and children how to overcome anxieties and stay positive despite the circumstances surrounding them. It was a joy to observe children reading and colouring the story and imagining themselves travelling around Syria with characters, like Ario, to share with other children what they have learned from the book and what to do to prevent transmission of COVID-19,” said Ahmed Sousan, 30, a volunteer from Rural Damacus who received WHO training. “Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and work life balance were among the recommendations I received during the psychosocial support sessions, in addition to tips on how to talk to children about COVID-19 related fears. It was important for me to share how the pandemic affected the mental well-being of my family. I felt others shared the same concerns and together we can overcome the challenges of the current times,” said one of the parents at the Al-Tal centre. Following the success of the pilot programme in Rural Damascus, WHO plans to replicate the initiative in Homs, Aleppo and other governorates this year to reach thousands of parents and children in need of mental health support; and in collaboration with the Regional Office for Eastern Mediterranean will also share the initiative’s best practices for other countries in the Region to replicate. The original story was produced by WHO Syria and can be found here.

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Publication

29 July 2021

2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Syrian Arab Republic

Context and Humanitarian Impact Syria remains one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies characterized by ongoing hostilities which have killed hundreds of thousands of people, triggered one of the worst displacement crises of our time, and led to the widespread destruction of civilian and agricultural infrastructure, including homes, schools, health facilities, water supply and irrigation systems. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance - a 21 per cent increase compared to 2020 - with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. The decade-long crisis has inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population who have experienced massive and systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including more than 1,350 attacks on education and medical facilities and related personnel, bombardment which has caused over 12 million people to flee their homes, and arbitrary detention, abduction, torture as well as other serious abuses. Almost 12,000 children have been killed or injured since 2011, and 47 per cent of young people have had a member of their immediate family or close friend die. With around half of Syria’s children having known nothing but a lifetime of crisis - 2.45 million of whom were estimated to be out of school in 2020 alone - an entire generation is at risk of being lost. Long-standing and deep-rooted trauma, much of which remains unaddressed, means a mental health crisis looms large. While large-scale hostilities have reduced compared to the peak of the crisis, with frontlines not having shifted in a year, frequent mutual shelling and rocket fire continues to be observed along contact lines, often causing civilian casualties. The economy has experienced irreparable harm since the crisis began, with the gross domestic product having declined by 60 per cent and the government increasingly unable to raise sufficient revenue to subsidize essential commodities such as fuel and bread on which the most vulnerable families rely. The Syrian pound is in virtual freefall having lost 78 per cent of its value since October 2019, while price increases for staple goods are at an all-time high. More than 90 per cent of the population is now estimated to live below the poverty line. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this economic downturn by further reducing already sparse income-generating opportunities in a context where 50 per cent of the work age population is now estimated unemployed, and curtailing women and children’s access to critical services such as reproductive health and malnutrition screening. Remittances, on which millions of Syrians and particularly IDPs rely are understood to have halved, from US$1.6 billion in 2019 to US$800 million in 2020, due to global and regional economic contraction. COVID-19 has also impacted an already debilitated health system in which half of health facilities are partially or non-functional. Humanitarian Conditions and Needs Continued civilian casualties and forced displacement due to ongoing hostilities, in addition to reduced access to already degraded basic services, limited and inadequate housing and shelter options, and a wide array of specific protection risks and concerns continue to cause and perpetuate humanitarian needs among the population. While hostility-induced displacement in early 2020 generated additional needs amongst the population in Syria for internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities, particularly in North-west Syria (NWS), the ripple effects of the economic downturn - including the loss of income and livelihoods, sharply reduced purchasing power and resulting financial unaffordability of food and other basic goods - have exacerbated living conditions for people who were already in humanitarian need, and have tipped previously less affected segments of the population into humanitarian need, including food insecurity, across the country. The crisis continues to have a gendered impact, with women and adolescent girls paying a high price for harmful and discriminatory gender norms, including gender-based violence, while men and boys face elevated risks linked to arbitrary detention, forced conscription and explosive ordnance, among others. The economic deterioration has financially squeezed families further. Eighty-two per cent of assessed households in Syria report a significant deterioration in their ability to meet basic needs since August 2019, due mainly to price increases and loss of income. With the WASH, health and education infrastructure considered poorly or non-functional in 48 per cent of all sub-districts, access to basic services is severely hampered and increasingly unaffordable. This is particularly the case for over 1.9 million IDPs sheltering in informal settlements, planned camps and collective shelters, which offer inadequate protection against the elements and increase the risk of epidemic-prone diseases among this population. At the same time millions of people across Syria continue to live in damaged housing, particularly along former frontlines, with those paying rent now struggling more than before to do so. Facing deteriorated living standards, families are increasingly adopting harmful coping mechanisms. Seventy-one per cent of households and 75 per cent of female-headed households have taken on more debt since August 2019. Twenty-eight per cent of families now adopt ‘crisis’ or ‘emergency’ food related coping strategies, including withdrawing children from school to have them work instead, selling property, migrating due to lack of food and early child marriage. Twenty-two per cent of assessed communities report child labour as frequently occurring, while child marriage of young and adolescent girls (12-17 years) is reported by 18 per cent of assessed communities as a very common issue. Worsening living standards and an increase in harmful coping strategies have led additional segments of the population to develop life-threatening physical and mental health needs. These include a 57 per cent increase in the number of food insecure people to 12.4 million (up from 7.9 million in early 2020). Of these, 1.27 million people are considered severely food insecure – twice as many as in early 2020. In line with this trend, malnutrition rates continue to peak, with more than 500,000 children under the age of five chronically malnourished and 90,000 acutely malnourished. Mental trauma is widespread and under-assessed but certain to have long-term implications across all population groups. Twenty- seven per cent of households report signs of psychological distress in boys and girls, almost double the 2020 figure (14 per cent). Critical protection needs persist and have been aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including gender-based violence (GBV), with women and girls across the country reporting that it has become a feature of everyday life. One in two people in Syria is estimated to be at risk of explosive ordnance; needs for humanitarian mine action interventions, particularly survey and clearance activities, are therefore significant but currently not met at scale. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the country with nearly 47,000 cases confirmed in Syria, including at least 1,972 deaths as of mid-March 2021, further straining the health system and reducing people's access to both emergency and non-emergency care. In 2021, the increased scope and inter-linked nature of humanitarians needs among the population in Syria requires a comprehensive response across all sectors to save lives, protect people and prevent further deprivation. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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19 October 2021

Syrian farmers face challenges preparing for the new season following poor harvest in 2020/21

Although the agriculture sector has fared better than other sectors in Syria in the past ten years, farmers have suffered from the impact of conflict and macroeconomic difficulties. Compounding this, in 2021 farmers faced unfavourable weather conditions in the main cereal producing areas of the country. FAO carried out an independent mission to assess the 2021 cereal harvest and overall situation of the agricultural sector in Syria. Methodologically established crop cutting and statistical sampling methods that had been employed in assessments in previous years could not be utilized this year due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Therefore, production estimates for cereals were determined through key informant interviews involved in a systematic programme in which consensus was developed. Key informants included larger farmers in key producing areas; members of farmers’ cooperatives; the General Union of Peasants; operators of harvesting equipment; and experienced staff from agricultural departments, as well as FAO field personnel. This method, though generally reliable, may have introduced some systematic biases. These methods should be studied further and refined for future use in the event of unforeseen circumstances that prevent the application of established crop assessment methods. Higher early government estimates also suffered from challenges in data collection in areas out of government control. Socio-economic background: Although much of the country is now secure and pockets of active fighting remain contained, the economic conditions in Syria are not considered favourable. Already weakened by ten years of conflict, the economy suffered further setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and spill-over effects from the economic crisis in Lebanon, long a lifeline of the Syrian economy. High inflation rates, weakening currency and shortages of basic products, including fuel, prevail. The impact of sanctions has generally worsened matters for millions of Syrians, directly or indirectly. According to the World Food Programme, more than 12.4 million people (60 percent of the population) were food insecure in 2020, 5.4 million more than in 2019. This has worsened further in 2021. Crop production: Insufficient and poorly distributed rainfall in the 2020/21 agricultural season, together with several heatwaves, the high cost of inputs, limited availability of irrigation water and high cost of fuel for pumping, resulted in a contraction of the harvestable cereal area. The estimated harvested wheat area (787 000 ha) was slightly over half of that harvested in 2019. The estimated harvested barley area (352 000 ha) decreased by 75 percent from last year because large swathes of land were not deemed worth the harvesting effort. The 2021 wheat production is estimated at around 1.05 million tonnes, down from 2.8 million in 2020, and only a quarter of the pre-crisis average of 4.1 million tonnes (during the period 2002-2011). At 268 000 tonnes, rainfed barley production was only about 10 percent of exceptional harvests in 2019 and 2020. Main agricultural constraints for crop production: Farmers continue raising concerns about high production costs and transportation costs as well as lack of quality inputs. The agricultural machinery fleet is ageing, with no significant investment. Some progress has been made on the rehabilitation of irrigation structures, although illegal and uncontrolled drilling for groundwater over the past years is likely to have lowered the ground water table. A significant proportion of previously irrigated lands remain unwatered due to lack of equipment, maintenance or fuel. High rates of wastage were reported in fruit and vegetable production, constrained by low consumer purchasing power, the inability to export, and a shortage of processing factories. Livestock: Nationally, overall livestock numbers appeared to have stabilized after an initial sharp decline early in the conflict. However, current high feed prices and lack of access to pasture are likely to have resulted in extensive destocking. Prices of live animals already decreased compared to last year, as farmers have sold part of their herd to purchase feed and other inputs for the rest. Prices of dairy products and eggs increased to cover the high feed and fuel costs, but the rate of increase for dairy products and eggs is less than the increases in the cost of production. Although no significant outbreaks of animal diseases were reported (though lumpy skin disease of cattle was a problem earlier), nutritional status of animals is weak, making them generally susceptible to disease. Future trends: Farmers lack liquidity and access to credit, while prices of inputs are increasing. Prices of subsidised inputs, such as fuel and fertilisers increased. Seed is likely to be difficult to source due to the drastically reduced 2020 harvest, and seed quality is expected to be poor, with low germination rates. However, famers lacking feasible economic livelihood alternatives continue working their lands, even if in many cases using less intensive production methods and lower amounts of inputs. In response to the challenges faced by farmers in the 2020/21 season, immediate action is required to support the agriculture sector and prevent further erosion of productive assets. Although past crop assessment missions have advocated for a transition away from emergency and basic livelihood support and to recovery and reconstruction of the agricultural sector, this year emergency support is critical because the upcoming season carries the likelihood of below-normal precipitation in autumn 2021 and a lack widely available quality seed. The goal of emergency support is to ease shortages and improve access to inputs, ensuring sufficient supplies of diesel at official rates for farming operations, and to avert destocking of animals due to high feed costs. Detailed findings and additional recommendations will be presented in a forthcoming report assessing the 2020/21 crop production in the Syrian Arab Republic.

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19 October 2021

Batoul’s journey to recovery: WHO providing quality mental health services to people in need

Prior to being displaced to Al Hol camp in northeast Syria, Batoul, 28, used to live in Al Bab city in rural Aleppo. She knows very well how the sudden loss of home and loved ones can affect mental health and well-being. “I was around 27 when I developed a severe psychological condition. I could hear a lot of powerful voices inside my head, and I would have many suspicious thoughts. I suffered as I started mistrusting everyone and lived in constant fear. I went downhill very fast. It became extremely difficult to get control of my life, and I remember acting strangely, scaring people around me. I began hearing voices giving me commands and live with that even until today. To control the symptoms, I became addicted to self-harm,” said Batoul, describing her suffering. Batoul is one of the thousands of internally displaced persons at Al Hol camp feeling anxious and uncertain about the future and constantly anxious. This state of mind has become “normal” for camp residents like Batoul. With WHO support and in close coordination with health partners and camp management, Batoul was referred to a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with schizophrenia and offered an individually tailored treatment plan that did not compromise her confidentiality or dignity. For over 9 months she was counseled by a WHO-supported community worker who looked after Batoul and helped her work towards recovery by ensuring she took timely medication, attended individual counseling sessions, participated in social skills development training, and was regularly followed up. “Every day I struggled to get through the day. The treatment along with care from the medical team was very helpful, and my recovery and my life have changed for the better. Without this care and support, I would not have been here today living a normal life. I received help to survive when I was grappling with my mental health issues, and I am very thankful to my doctor and the whole team,” added Batoul. This year only, WHO supported around 50 000 consultations across Syria through community-based projects and over 65 000 consultations through primary health centres, helping people in urban, rural and hard-to-reach areas with mental and physiological challenges. Since the onset of COVID-19, WHO and partners have reached over 333 000 children, elderly people, and caregivers through mental health campaigns in the governorates of Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, Tartous, Deir-Ez-Zor and Rural Damascus, providing skills on how to cope with stress and fears, and combat stigma associated with COVID-19. This year to date, WHO has delivered over 323 000 treatment courses as part of therapeutic interventions of mental health conditions, through health partners across the country, including in northeast Syria. The current coverage for the management of mental health conditions and psychosocial support services at functioning primary health care centres across Syria is 40% – one of the highest in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. “The health and mental well-being of people in Syria, already troubled by years of war, has been worsened by the impact of COVID-19 and the country’s current economic situation. Addressing mental health and providing psychosocial support is an integral part of the World Health Organization’s work to protect those people in need. We work with our partners to ensure that the humanitarian health response is holistic, and mental health and psychological support is integrated,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syria.

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25 October 2021

Saving the lives of pregnant women amid escalating conflict in Syria

DAMASCUS, Syria – “It was the worst experience of our lives, especially after ten years of crisis in Syria,” said Najwa* about her recent life-threatening ordeal, which exemplified how maternal and child health can suffer catastrophically during conflicts. Najwa’s story started in early August when she was forced to flee her home with her husband and five children following the outbreak of hostilities in Daraa Al-Balad in southern Syria. Compounding her misfortune was the fact that she was nine months pregnant. Most people displaced by the recent fighting in Daraa Al-Balad found refuge with relatives and friends in Daraa city. However, around 1,500 people, including Najwa and her family, were placed in six collective shelters in the city. “I did not realize what was happening to me,” said Najwa, 28, recounting her story on a recent day. “I was just focusing on getting to a safer place.” A UNFPA-supported mobile team, run by the Syrian Family Planning Association (SFPA), met Najwa during a regular visit to the shelter where she was staying. By coincidence, the day of the visit, 13 August, was when Najwa’s labour pains started. Members of the team examined her and found that she was facing serious childbirth complications. They rushed her to the Daraa National Hospital. There, a gynecologist determined that Najwa needed an immediate Caesarean section. With emergency surgery, she gave birth to a healthy boy. She named him Mohamed. Saving lives during crises Access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services in Daraa, and the ability to respond to gender-based violence, continue to be severely disrupted due to the ongoing fighting. Pregnant women there continue to risk life-threatening complications because they cannot easily receive safe delivery and emergency obstetric services. To address these challenges, UNFPA is working with the SFPA mobile team to provide shelter residents with a variety of primary health care services, as well as maternal and newborn care. Complicated cases are referred to SFPA clinics in Daraa City. UNFPA and its partners are also providing services to prevent and respond to gender-based violence among the affected population, as risk of violence is known to increase in humanitarian crises. Mohamed, Najwa’s newborn baby, at the Daraa National Hospital © UNFPA/SFPA A “fresh life” after “the worst time” Once Najwa received all the medical care she needed at the hospital, the mobile team took her and Mohamed back to the shelter. The team has since been following up on their condition, providing Najwa and her baby with all the required medical support, including postnatal and neonatal care. “We went through the worst time in our life, but we have a fresh life now,” said Najwa. “I am so happy for the arrival of my new baby.”

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20 September 2021

FAO in the Syrian Arab Republic to host a Zoominar on irrigation to strengthen social cohesion

FAO in the Syrian Arab Republic will host a Zoominar entitled “Irrigation for agriculture and social cohesion” that will focus on the importance of water and agriculture as key elements in recovery and stability in rural communities. The event will coincide with the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2021 in which the theme is “recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world”. This Zoominar will highlight three points for discussion. Farmers in the Syrian Arab Republic have returned to their lands and resumed agricultural activities thanks to increased water availability, which has contributed to peace-building in rural areas. Restoring farmers’ access to water has not only improved food production, but has also enhanced social cohesion, as farmers meet and work together to manage their resources effectively and sustainably. Water Users Associations play a key role in ensuring equity, underpinning this social cohesion. Why irrigation and agriculture are vital for social cohesion Scarcity of water resources is a potential source of conflict, particularly in the context of a changing climate. Therefore, working together to ensure the sustainable availability of water for irrigation and food production at the local level, especially in countries that have suffered from conflicts, including the Syrian Arab Republic, can bring communities together, restoring agricultural livelihoods, reducing pressure to migrate from rural areas, and reducing the appeal to continue to engage in illegal or antisocial activity. FAO in the Syrian Arab Republic’s Zoominar will address the experiences and lessons learned from its technical discussions with local communities and observations from field projects over the past three years. This discussion will also involve FAO’s regional water and irrigation team as well as experts from international organizations, including ICARDA and the International Committee of the Red Cross

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15 July 2021

Syria completes the first phase of COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Syria received the first batch of vaccines supplied through the COVAX initiative on 21 April 2021. In total, 256 800 doses of AstraZeneca SII COVIDSHILD were received and distributed to Government-controlled areas and northeast Syria, as well as to northwest Syria. The vaccination campaign in Syria started on 17 May 2021. Of total doses provided to Syria, 53 800 doses were delivered through Gaziantep for use in northwest Syria and 203 000 doses to Damascus for use in a national campaign implemented by the Ministry of Health across all other parts of the country, including northeast Syria. Priority groups Health workers, the elderly and people with comorbidities are the high-risk priority groups as per the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan. The 2 different vaccination strategies are applied: in northwest Syria – all currently available vaccine quantities are dedicated for first dose vaccination, while the national immunization programme split the total quantity available into 2 and has administered first dose vaccines only, keeping the second dose in stocks for later vaccination. As in all countries, the COVID-19 vaccination has been a novel process in Syria and a number of challenges was faced since the onset of the vaccination campaign. Though healthcare workers were prioritized, some hesitated to accept a COVID-19 vaccine in general, and AZ, in particular. Vaccine demand generation was and remains especially difficult. With vaccine availability only adequate to cover 0.5% of the population of Syria – compared to the 3% initially planned by June and 20% by December 2021 – a national promotional campaign was suspended, leading to challenges in creating demand. However, as more people received vaccines, the demand also gradually rose. Joint efforts and way forward WHO and partners reached out to health care workers at health facilities and through medical syndicates to promote vaccine uptake. As the vaccines expire in August 2021 and doses must be taken at least 8 weeks apart, the campaign was time sensitive and therefore, vaccines were offered to other groups in order to avoid waste. Vaccine uptake was initially low across all governorates, but coverage grew as more people took the vaccine without experiencing side-effects, thus building confidence in the vaccine. WHO works with GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and its partners to secure the second batch of COVAX facilitated vaccines in the near future. Please check out the vaccination updates from January - June 2021.

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Press Release

04 April 2022

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - Press Release

This year, on April 4th, the United Nations in Syria would like to stress the need for enhancing protection of people who are facing the dangers of explosive ordnance contamination every day, in both rural and urban areas throughout the country. Landmines and explosive ordnance are indiscriminate deadly enemies that kill or maim regardless of profession, age and sex whether soldier or civilian, girls, boys, women or men. According to the 2022 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 10.2 million people, roughly 1 in 2 Syrians are estimated to be living in areas contaminated with explosive ordnance in 2022. Half of them (around 4.6 million) are children. 1 in 3 communities is reportedly contaminated with some form of explosive ordnance. The UN Mine Action Service estimates that since 2013, an average of four people per day have been killed or injured by explosive ordnance, placing Syria amongst the top countries reporting direct victims of explosive ordnance incidents worldwide. Only in the past weeks, we have been sadly reminded of the deadly impact of contamination, with at least four accidents being reported in March resulting in six child casualties. Not only does contamination result in death and injury of civilians, especially IDPs, but as explosive ordnance contamination is most frequently reported in agricultural land and on roads, it is also the top access constraint for the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to those most in need, and exacerbates food insecurity and hampers early recovery. As stated by the United Nations Secretary General in his remarks for this 2022 International Mine Action Day: “Mine action is an investment in humanity. It is a prerequisite for humanitarian relief efforts and the foundation of lasting peace and sustainable development.” Without a comprehensive and inclusive humanitarian mine action response in Syria, explosive ordnance will continue to injure and kill civilians, to hinder safe access and to threaten the safety of humanitarian workers. It will continue to prevent the use of schools, hospitals, and land necessary to sustain the livelihoods of the Syrian people who, after 11 years, are in a deepening crisis compounded by socio- and economic emergencies. Today, in Syria, an awareness campaign is being launched on social media and through SMS to inform people about these risks. Help us spread the word and join the campaign #IMAD2022 #MineAwarenessDay #SafeGround.

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Press Release

24 October 2021

Addressing Climate Vulnerability in the Water Sector

UN-HABITAT, UNDP and FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment will launch the Adaptation Fund project titled “Increasing the Climate Change Resilience of Communities in Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus to Water Scarcity Challenges through Integrated Natural Resource Management and Immediate Adaptation Interventions”. The Project will be launched through the inception workshop in the Eastern Ghouta in presence of the Minister of Local Administration and Environment, representatives of concerned ministries, representatives of concerned municipalities and Heads of UN Agencies. The launch of the project addresses climate change as a dire challenge in the Syrian Arab Republic that is manifested in various climatic phenomena varied across different regions, but generally alarming are the increasing temperatures and droughts, already in the short term, and projected reduction of precipitation, mainly on the long term. Therefore, the Adaptation Fund project will enhance the adaptive capacities of the population in Syria to climate change. The 3.5-years project targets Eastern Ghouta as one of the most populated agricultural areas in Syria and vulnerable to climate change and water scarcity. Targeting the municipalities of Al Mleiha, Zebdine, Deir El Assafir and Marj El sultan in Rural Damascus, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of national and sub-national government institutions and communities to assess, plan and manage climate change-induced and post-crises water and land challenges in an efficient, sustainable and climate resilient way. A water supply system that is resilient to climate change will also be established with an improved wastewater treatment since untreated wastewater is currently polluting water resources, irrigation channels, and soil. In addition, this system will be supported using highly efficient irrigation technologies, while promoting drought-tolerant crops and trees, introducing climate smart agriculture practices and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The Adaptation Fund project will also foster an integrated natural resource management approach to present solutions for enhancing resilience to water scarcity (reduce water losses and contamination, improve water use efficiency meet the increased demand of water for irrigation, and protecting water and lands from pollution). The Adaptation Fund was established to finance concrete adaptation projects and programmes in developing countries that are parties to the Kyoto Protocol and are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. The United Nations is calling on people everywhere to work together to solve climate challenges and realize the commitments of the 2015 Paris Agreement. For more information, please contact Tamara Tamzok, UN-HABITAT Syria, Adaptation Fund Project Manager +963 940 077 765 tamara.tamzok@un.org Tayma Mourad, UN-HABITAT Syria, Communication Assistant +963 965 044 536 taimaa.mourad@un.org Salma Hakki, FAO Syria, Communication Officer, +963 958-002-536 salma.hakki@fao.org Giacomo Negrotto, UNDP Syria, Partnership Development Officer, +963 99 33 38 908 giacomo.negrotto@undp.org

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Press Release

17 October 2021

Joint Statement occasion of World Food Day and the Syria Crisis

On this World Food Day, we express our concern over the widespread and growing hunger in Syria. Ten years of devastating crisis, the recent severe economic decay, and COVID-19 have already pushed over 12 million people into food insecurity. This has been only further compounded by climate factors: Syria is one of nine countries considered at ‘very high risk’ of extreme climatic events, and the third highest at risk of drought. The UN warns that without urgent action, millions of more people living in Syria today are at risk of going hungry. While food insecurity in Syria stems from years of conflict and displacement, it is now also driven by a deteriorating economy. Across the country, food prices have risen stratospherically. As families across Syria face growing levels of poverty, many are forced to make difficult choices. More and more people are eating less, forgoing their own meals to feed other family members, or even sending their children to work, so that they can merely survive. Climate factors are further compounding this plight. The UN has already sounded the alarm over the recent water crisis and drought-like conditions affecting the country, in particular in the north and north-east. Poor and erratic rainfall critical for crop development and warmer-than-average temperatures have hit important harvests in several governorates. Around 40 per cent of the irrigated agricultural areas are no longer able to count on water availability. When coupled with existing damage and neglect of farmlands and irrigation systems following years of conflict, in addition to the rising costs of already scarce inputs necessary for production, the consequences are disastrous and long-lasting. In the worst affected areas, farmers are simply abandoning their land and selling their livestock. This not only erases their income and livelihood prospects, it further drives up local food costs and shortages, impacting entire communities. With more than 60 per cent of the population already unable to guarantee access to safe, nutritious and adequate food - and an additional 1.8 million at risk of sliding into hunger - urgent assistance must immediately be scaled-up to avert further suffering. However, humanitarian assistance alone will not be sufficient to safeguard people from hunger. The food security outlook for Syria depends on a wide range of social, environmental, and economic factors. Investments in programmes for resilient and cost-efficient food systems are critically needed. The UN and partners have been working together on the rehabilitation of agricultural production assets and infrastructure such as water systems and irrigation facilities. It also remains a paramount objective to help farmers better manage agricultural production, by enhancing their access to quality inputs and markets, as well as strengthening early warning systems to improve coping with the various agricultural risks and natural disasters. On this World Food Day, we stress that it is simply unacceptable that so many in Syria today go hungry. Solutions can be found, but it will take a concerted, collective effort, with judicious and principled investment. Without food security, the prospects for future generations of Syria will remain bleak. For their sake, and for those who have already suffered so much, it is imperative we do more to ensure all people in Syria can access their right to food. Signatories Mr Abdulhakim Elwaer, Assistant Director-General/ Regional Representative for the Middle East and North Africa (FAO) Ms Corinne Fleischer, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (WFP) Mr Imran Riza, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Mr Muhannad Hadi, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis

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Press Release

29 July 2021

Essential services in Syria - Joint Statement

The United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr. Imran Riza, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Mr. Muhannad Hadi, express deep concern over reduced water levels in the Euphrates River, which has wide-ranging humanitarian impacts for millions of people in Syria, including their access to water and electricity. In recent months, as a result of a critically low water flow rate in the Euphrates River, important dams in the area have shrunk to historic lows, including Tishreen in the north-eastern Aleppo Governorate, and Tabqa in Ar-Raqqa Governorate. This in turn has had serious ramifications impacting the well-being of civilians in the region, including limited access to clean drinking water and widespread power blackouts. On a visit to Tishreen and Tabqa dams on 16 June, Mr. Riza met with water authorities who stressed the gravity of the current dam levels. Dam engineers who had worked on-site for more than two decades told Mr. Riza that the current water deficit was the worst in memory. Local community members also told Mr. Riza that not only has the overall availability of water in the region been affected, so too has the quality of water. Current estimates indicate over five million people, including in northeast Syria, are reliant on the Euphrates for their drinking water, and approximately three million people for electricity. Vital infrastructure, including hospitals, irrigation networks, and water stations, are also reportedly affected. Should the situation not improve, possible longer-term impacts include damage to agriculture; a worsening of already dire food insecurity; loss of livelihoods; and a severe undermining of overall public health. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that adequate and uninterrupted access to water is indispensable to safeguard the life, health, and dignity of all. At the same time, the local impacts of the global climate crisis have become ever more pronounced. Ongoing drought and other events, such as locust plagues, have affected not only Syria but the broader region, including in neighboring countries, and exacted a disproportionate cost on innumerable vulnerable people living in the area. Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi note that humanitarian partners, including UN agencies, are continuing essential work to stem the worst impacts of this current crisis, including the daily delivery of millions of liters of emergency water to families in the affected area. They however emphasize that these measures are not and cannot be a substitute for the long-term, regular and reliable access to water, sanitation, electricity, and other basic services which the Euphrates provides. For the sake of millions of families, many already struggling to cope with 10 years of crisis, Mr. Riza and Mr. Hadi urge parties to work together to find a sustainable and equitable solution that serves the needs of all. UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.

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