Projects

Short Description:

Overall goal

Unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic has been on-going since March 2011 and continues to affect civilians, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population. The Syria Red Crescent was made Humanitarian Coordinator (HC’S) in August 2011 and significant inter-agency processes swung into action during the following months Under the HC’s leadership, OCHA is required to support the strategic and coordinated provision of principled humanitarian aid in a complex, risky, high-profile and fluid situation both in Syria and in the surrounding countries.

Following the negotiation between the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator and the Government of Syria, the United Nations is in the process of establishing field presences in Dara'a, Dayr az Zor, Homs (covering Hama) and Idlib through the deployment of 8-10 international staff, thus enhancing the humanitarian capacities to coordinate humanitarian response there. In accordance with its mandate, some of the priorities on which OCHA’s work focuses are:

• Support the strengthening of the capacity of the Syria UN Country Team (UNCT) and establish effective coordination mechanism and humanitarian response;

• Continue supporting the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator in negotiations for a sustainable and safe mechanism for practical humanitarian access and increased implementation capacity;

• Advocate for the protection of human rights and humanitarian principles and coordinate the UNCT efforts to create an environment more conducive to the protection of civilians and respect of international humanitarian law;

• Mobilize resources and provide the humanitarian community in Syria with rapid and flexible funding (CERF / Emergency Response Fund);

• Support the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and other national and local actors, including international NGOs, national NGOs and community based organizations (CBOs), for effective assistance;

• Coordinate humanitarian assessments;