Yarmouk: Humanitarian access to Yarmouk and adjacent areas remains extremely constrained. In August 2015, UNRWA was authorized to conduct four humanitarian missions, limited to providing basic health care in Yalda, where many Palestine refugees from Yarmouk have been displaced. UNRWA treated 1,103 patients and detected 54 suspected cases of typhoid over these four days. UNRWA also distributed 400,000 water purification tablets donated by UNICEF in complement of its health assistance. High summer temperatures and water and food shortages continue to deeply a.ect the health and well-being of civilians of Yarmouk, Yalda, Babila and Beit Saham.
Husseinieh: Civilians from Husseinieh, including a large number of Palestine refugees, were allowed to return to the area following their displacement by armed conflict two years prior. The return to Husseinieh constitutes the first large-scale return of Palestine refugees within Syria. Over 3,000 families, including an estimated 80 per cent of Palestine refugees, have returned so far and the number is increasing rapidly, with several hundred new returnees each day. Following initial assessments, UNRWA has been working quickly to resume disrupted services in Husseinieh, including the reopening of schools ahead of the beginning of the 2015/16 school year.
FOOD ASSISTANCE:
UNRWA distributed food parcels to 45,834 families (183,336 individuals) via 14 Distribution Centers in the Damascus area, Neirab, Homs, Latakia, Aleppo, As Suwayda and Dera’a. In addition, the Agency distributed 783 food baskets in 16 collective shelters, as well as daily hot meals prepared through central kitchens in 20 collective shelters.
CASH ASSISTANCE:
In the reporting period, UNRWA distributed US$ 7,807,829 in cash to 128,816 refugees (31,048 families) who each collected the equivalent of US$ 64 in local currency.
HEALTH:
UNRWA provided health care for up to 480,000 refugees in Syria through 14 health centres and 11 health points. In August, 85,916 consultations were conducted across Syria. The majority of patients were women (56 per cent).
NON-FOOD ITEM ASSISTANCE:
UNRWA distributed 432 packs of adult diapers, 3,684 packs of infant diapers, 2,610 hygiene kits, 194 blankets, 194 mattresses and 8,526 packs of sanitary towels for female beneciaries living in UNRWA-managed collective shelters.
EDUCATION:
Around 10,000 children participated in the Summer Learning Programme in August through 52 schools providing academic support in mathematics, Arabic, English, French, music, sports and art. In preparation for the new school year, UNRWA focused on the registration of pupils and the distribution of textbooks. With the opening of Husseinieh, UNRWA identified two schools which will be set up to accommodate over 2,000 pupils already registered in the area. Two new alternative UNRWA schools were opened in Dahyet Qudsaya to accommodate the large number of Palestine refugees who have been displaced there.
COLLECTIVE CENTRES:
UNRWA hosts 12,111 Palestine refugees (3,050 families) in 36 collective shelters located in various UNRWA installations and other facilities – including schools, community centres and mosques – in Damascus, Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. Food assistance – in the form of canned and dry foods – was provided to the shelters, as well as hygiene kits and various sanitary products including diapers and sanitary napkins for women.
WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE:
UNRWA provided 2,900 cubic metres of fresh potable water for 6,800 families in Khan Danoun, Khan Eshieh, Artouz and Shahba. The Agency also provided 6,000 sanitation tablet kits to 8,000 families in rural Damascus and As Suwayda. In Yalda, UNRWA distributed 400,000 water purification tablets to displaced refugees from Yarmouk.
Date: September 2015
Sources: Palestine refugees [UNRWA]
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations
Download Document Files: https://unispal.un.org/pdfs/SYRIAUNWRA_HUMSS.pdf
Document Type: Factsheet, Infographic
Document Sources: United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Subject: Armed conflict, Assistance, Children, Education and culture, Food, Health, Humanitarian relief, Living conditions, Middle East situation, Poverty, Refugee camps, Refugees and displaced persons, Shelter, Water
Publication Date: 18/09/2015