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27/05/2009
Iraqi refugees in Syria stage protest UN
Some 200 Iraqi refugees in Syria staged a sit-in outside the UN refugee offices in Damascus Tuesday to protest perceived delays in measures to
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22/04/2009
UN Commissioner for Refugees appreciates Syria's efforts in hosting the Iraqi Refugees
Geneva, (SANA)-Deputy Foreign Minister Fayssal Mikdad discussed Wednesday with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva the role of the UN
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The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)
Please Visit UNHCR Syria website: www.unhcr.sy
Objectives
- To date, around 250,000 Iraqis have registered with UNHCR. The current population of registered Iraqi refugees in Syria stands at 215,429 (as of 30 September 2009) following reductions due to resettlement, returns and ongoing verification of the presence of registered refugees in Syria.
- The vast majority of Iraqi refugees have settled in and around Damascus with a small proportion in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Deir Ezzor, Lattakia, Tartous and Hassaka. The urban nature of this refugee population makes detection and identification of vulnerable Iraqis challenging.
- The high refugee numbers have put significant strain on Syrias economy as well as on the countrys Education and Health infrastructures which are open to all Iraqi refugees.
- Refugees cannot legally seek employment. With recent price increases, especially in rent, food, fuel and diesel, UNHCR Syria is focusing on preventing the negative consequences of refugee impoverishment which include homelessness, child labour, early marriage and other negative coping mechanisms.
- Most Iraqi refugees hold renewable residency permits valid from 1 to 3 months. UNHCR Syria has recently noted the stricter implementation of rules regarding the granting and renewal of residency permits to Iraqi refugees.
Voluntary Repatriation
- UNHCR does not currently promote or encourage repatriation but remains prepared to facilitate voluntary returns. Accordingly it has started assisting some individual families expressing a free and informed decision to return to Iraq after individual counselling.
- Since the start of its voluntary repatriation programme in October 2008, UNHCR Syria has assisted 1179 Iraqi refugees to return to Iraq. The majority cite financial hardship as the reason for their decision to repatriate.
- There are indications that more returns have taken place without being officially declared with UNHCR or the Iraqi and Syrian authorities.
Protection
UNHCR identifies vulnerable refugees through registration and outreach. Protection and Legal Counselling takes place at UNHCR offices with lawyers engaged to intervene on individual cases.
There are currently 84,601 Iraqi refugees registered with UNHCR considered as having specific needs:
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| Special Needs |
Individuals |
| Child or adolescent at risk |
9,419 |
| Disabled |
6,069 |
| Critical medical condition |
43,808 |
| Older person at risk |
4,939 |
| Special legal and protection needs |
41,689 |
| Woman at risk |
10,675 |
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Priorities
Protection
UNHCR identifies vulnerable refugees through registration and outreach. Protection and Legal Counselling takes place at UNHCR offices with lawyers engaged to intervene on individual cases.
Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)
Several hundred survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence have been identified by UNHCR. Staff dedicated to supporting these survivors and preventing such violence work closely with local counterparts.
Outreach
76 Iraqi Outreach Workers in cooperation with 6 Community Centres carry out home visits to identify vulnerable refugees and refer them for services.
Assistance
Sustained Direct Assistance: 120,386 Iraqi refugees (32,223 families) across Syria received food, non-food assistance in the fourth distribution cycle of 2009 (July-August). The fifth distribution cycle will begin at the start of October. 12,960 families (37,229 individuals) are currently receiving monthly financial assistance.
Education
UNICEF and UNHCR are actively working to provide education opportunities for Iraqi refugees as part of an effort to address the issue of large numbers of children not attending school.
Health
A high proportion of the registered population has serious health issues. UNHCR provides subsidized health care to refugees through its Implementing Partner, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and public reference hospitals.
Co-ordination with UN Agencies
Resettlement of Iraqis 2007 /2008 /2009 |
Country of
submission |
Submissions
(individuals) |
Departures
(individuals) |
| AUL |
1857 |
760 |
| CAN |
2833 |
1271 |
| DEN |
20 |
7 |
| FIN |
881 |
347 |
| FRA |
102 |
88 |
| SWI |
21 |
0 |
| GBR |
165 |
52 |
| IRE |
6 |
3 |
| LUX |
34 |
0 |
| NET |
356 |
183 |
| NOR |
379 |
205 |
| NZL |
280 |
108 |
| BEL |
39 |
29 |
| POR |
9 |
5 |
| GER |
2313 |
1101 |
| SWE |
575 |
320 |
| USA |
25453 |
10969 |
| Total |
35909 |
16246 |
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UNHCR is prioritizing coordination with sister UN agencies and International NGOs on issues related to health, gender based violence, psychosocial support, education, with a special focus on women and children at risk.
Advocacy
UNHCR continues to lobby for accession to relevant international instruments and adoption of national refugee legislation.
UNHCR Syria Partners
UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, WHO, UNRWA, UNDP, IOM
The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Ministry of Higher Education, Governorate of Al-Hassakeh, Beiruni Hospital, Al-Basel Hospital, Damascus Hospital.
Action Against Hunger (Spain), French Red Cross, Danish Refugee Council, International Blue Crescent (Turkey), Premiere Urgence (France)
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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
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Public Information Unit Kafar Suseh, Abdullah Bin Rawtha St. Damascus, Syria
Tel: +963 11 2139961/2/3
Mobile:+963 932 100285/6/7/8
Fax: +963 11 2139929
Email: SYRDAPIU@unhcr.org
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