08/09/2010 Signature of Three Memorandums of Agreement under GEF Small Grants Programme
Under the GEF - Small Grants Programme, three memoranda of agreement were signed on Sunday 5th September 2010 at UNDP Country Office in
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31/08/2010 Dayah, UN Special Rapporteur Discuss Environmental Situation in Syria
Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Kawkab al-Sabah Daya discussed on Monday with the United Nations Special Rapportuer on the Right to Food
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31/08/2010 Ban hails role played by civil society in advancing global health
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have an invaluable role to play in advancing global health goals, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today
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UN agency mobilizes Iraqis to extend helping hand to fellow refugees in Syria (2010-01-04)
The United Nations refugee agency has marshalled some 80 Iraqi women to volunteer assistance to their fellow refugees spread out over a number of large cities in Syria, in an innovative move aimed at overcoming the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable group.
Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have fled to Syrian cities to escape the deadly violence at home, causing particular problems for humanitarian agencies.
Unlike traditional camps where the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) can deliver services and supplies to tens of thousands of refugees in one stop, Iraqis in Syria not only have trouble getting to the agency’s offices because of lack or transport, money or poor health, but UNHCR may even have trouble finding them to provide the help needed.
“One thing the experience with Iraqi refugees in the Middle East has taught us is that we need to offer services in new ways,” said Zahra Mirghani, UNHCR Senior Community Service Officer in Syria.
“Community services officers and others who do similar jobs are becoming increasingly important as more and more refugees live in cities and towns rather than camps,” added Ms. Mirghani.
In Syria, the 80 outreach volunteers visit refugees in their homes, act as social workers, offer informal counselling and highlight their needs for UNHCR’s attention, and with the support of 12 support group volunteers they also care for the elderly, the disabled, children or teenagers on their own, and people with psychosocial problems
