WFP SYRIA CRISIS RESPONSE Situation Update 20 November - 10 December 2013

Highlights

SYRIA JORDAN LEBANON TURKEY IRAQ EGYPT

WFP/ Dina-Elkassaby

The first WFP chartered flight landed on 15 December in Qam-ishly airport, Al-Hasakeh governo-rate, from Erbil with almost 40 mt of food. WFP plans to use 11 more airlifts to move 30 mt of supplies for sister agency UNICEF as well as enough food to feed over 30,000 people for one month.

During the October distribution cycle, WFP reached a record of almost 3.4 million beneficiaries, or 84 percent of the target 4 million beneficiaries.

In Lebanon, the roll-out of the e-card is nearing completion. By the end of the year, all beneficiar-ies will be using e-cards.

WFP has responded to the recent influx of refugees in Arsal, north-ern Lebanon, by distributing food parcels to approximately 3,434 families (approx. 17,500 people).

In 2013, WFP reached 4.8 million people inside Syria and the region. By the end of 2014, WFP plans to reach almost 7 million vulnerable Syrians and will need to raise approximately US$2 billion. WFP comprises 40% of the SHARP and 25% of the RRP6.

Since the start of 2013, WFP has injected over US$265 million into the local economies of host countries through its voucher programme. Over 90 percent of all beneficiaries in the region are assisted through vouchers.

By the end of 2014, WFP hopes to reach vulnerable refugees in the region with e-cards—electronic vouchers that function like pre-paid debit cards. E-cards are uploaded automatically each month and allow beneficiaries to purchase food in multiple visits to shops. 

WFP 2013 - 2014 CRISISRESPONSE

For information on WFP’s Syria Crisis Response in 2013 and 2014,

please use the QR Code or access through the link above.

SYRIA

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SYRIA

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OPERATIONS1 October cycle food distributions concluded on 21 November, reaching almost 3.4 million beneficiaries, or 84 percent of the target 4 million beneficiaries. A record of over 670, 000 family food rations and 2,843 mt of fortified wheat flour were distributed by 27 partners. November cycle food dispatches concluded on 3 December and fulfilled 83 percent of the plan. A total of 660,547 family food rations and 6,089 mt of wheat flour have been dispatched to assist a targeted 3.3 million people in 12 of the 14 Syrian governorates.

Over the reporting period, escalating fighting resulted in further population displacement in Rural Damascus, Quneitra and Homs governorates. As a result, WFP allocated an additional 15,000 family food rations to Damascus and Quneitra to respond to growing humanitarian needs and population displacement in these areas. This assistance is sufficient to assist a targeted 75,000 people.

QuneitraHeavy fighting affected several villages in the governorate of Quneitra, resulting in the closure of all road access to the governorate on 2 December. According to preliminary estimates, 10,000 people have been displaced to the central and eastern parts of the governorate while approximately 8,500 people have fled to various locations in Rural Damascus and Damascus city. However, an unspecified number of families remain trapped in the southern and western parts of the governorate, where intense shelling is ongoing. In response, WFP dispatched a total of 15,000 family food rations to the area, 4,000 family food rations within the governorate and 11,000 in the surrounding areas, providing enough assistance for approximately 75,000 people.

POPULATION DISPLACEMENT

1 For reporting purposes, WFP differentiates between dispatch and distribution operations. Dispatch refers to food rations that are loaded for transport from warehouses to final distribution points, while distribution refers to the physical transfer of food rations directly to beneficiaries at final distribution points.

Humariah

JaramanaAl-Ghezlaniya

Homs

Deir Atiyah

Al-Zabdani

Al-BahariyaAl-Jarba

Al-Otaiba

Trounjeh

Bier AjamMamtanah

Um BatnahBreka

Sa 'sa 'a

Bludan

JORDAN

ISRAEL

LEBANON

Dar’a

Homs

Quneitra

As-Sweida

Rural Damascus

Damascus

Deir Al-Asafeer

Al-Wa’er

Al-Edikhar

Al-KhaderKarm Shammi

Rural DamascusHeavy clashes are taking place in Ghouta and Qalamoun, causing a large number of families residing in the areas to flee to other locations in Rural Damascus, including Al-Ghezlaniya and Jaramana, as well as to Damascus City. Furthermore, an estimated 9,500 people fled from the town of Al-Zabadani, west of Damascus city, where all humanitarian access has been denied since July 2013.

Furthermore, since 20 November, an intensification of fighting forced a new wave of population displacement from the town of Deir Atiyah, in Rural Damascus. Most families fled to other locations in the governorate, with the bulk of the IDPs settling in Al Humairah, where they are receiving assistance by SARC Homs branch. The extent of humanitarian needs is currently being assessed.

Rural Homs In the area of Al Wa’er in Homs, which is about to enter its third month of siege, approximately 50 families are reportedly allowed to move out of the area each day without their belongings and provided they obtain approval from local authorities. Displaced families are mostly relocating to other locations in the governorate, including Al-Edikhar, Al Khader, Karm Shammi. Their registration is currently underway to ensure they are provided with adequate assistance by the humanitarian community.

INCREASING NEEDSOn 26 November, heavy rainfall and floods affected the rural area of Al-Qahtanieh, in the eastern part of Al-Hassakeh governorate, causing widespread damage in an area already subject to high levels of vulnerability and food insecurity. In response, the local authorities appointed a committee to conduct a rapid needs assessment of the situation on 27 November. Data collected indicated that four villages were affected, and over 50 houses collapsed. Moreover, flooding resulted in heavy losses of crops and livestock, causing particularly dire conditions in an area mainly reliant on agricultural production. The results of the assessment indicate that approximately 1,000 people, mainly small-scale farmers and herders, are currently in urgent need of food and non-food assistance.

WINTER RESPONSEAs an emergency measure against the recent dramatic drop in temperatures, WFP provided nearly 10,000 litres of emergency fuel rations in ten collective shelters in Damascus city on 12 and 13 December. These quantities will assist families to prepare hot food and heating for one week and will cover the energy needs of approximately 2,774 displaced people, mainly women, children and elderly. Further support is planned to an additional 35 shelters in Homs, Hama and Rural Damascus. As part of the UN’s winter prepardness planning, WFP is committed to providing life-saving deliveries of fuel to support vulnerable internally displaced families living in shelters during harsh winter days.

ACCESSAccess challengesOngoing fighting and security conditions continue to pose severe access challenges, hindering WFP’s capacity to provide assistance at planned scale in a number of governorates, particularly in Al-Hasakeh, Deir-ez-Zor, Ar-Raqqa and Aleppo. In November dispatch cycle, disruptions of access prevented WFP from reaching over 900,000 targeted beneficiaries in these four governorates combined, at 23 percent of WFP’s overall plan for Syria.

Al-Hasakeh, Deir-ez-Zor and Ar-RaqqaDuring the October cycle, Al-Hassakeh received none of the planned food allocations, while most of the planned food rations for the October cycle for Ar-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor were dispatched before a deterioration in the security situation led to no access to these areas at the end of October. As a result, during November cycle, both Al-Hasakeh and Deir-ez-Zor did not receive any of the dispatches allocated to the governorates for this cycle, while in Ar-Raqqa only 4 percent of the dispatch plan was achieved.

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AleppoDuring the September and October cycles access to the governorate was severely disrupted due to heavy fighting along the Khanassar road, preventing a significant portion of the governorate’s food allocation from being dispatched. At the end of October, improved security conditions and the reopening of the Khanassar route allowed dispatches to resume during the November cycle. However, while rations are now reaching some parts of Aleppo city, access remains a major challenge in other parts of the city and in the rural areas of the governorate. This is due to ongoing military operations and armed group activities affecting the Khan-al-Assal route, the main access point to the eastern parts of Aleppo and the countryside.

Homs and HamaThe almost one-month closure of the Damascus-Homs highway due to heavy fighting in the Qalamoun area caused additional delays for WFP operations. Restricted movement along this route affected food dispatches to Homs and Hama, while the disruption of the delivery of packaging material to WFP facilities in Safita and Lattakia, led to a slow-down in the production-line of food rations. Although government forces reportedly secured control and reopened the route on 7 December, the road is still not passable owing to poor security conditions. As a result, final distribution points in these governorates are being served from warehouses in Safita and Lattakia.

Access gainsDespite these challenges, WFP succeeded in accessing some hard-to-reach areas during the reporting period. A total of three inter-agency convoys accessed two hard-to-reach areas, Jasem and Khan Sheikhon, respectively in Dar’a and Idleb governorates. Through these convoys, WFP dispatched sufficient food assistance to support 5,000 people in Jasem and 15,000 people in Khan Sheikhon for one month. An estimated 120,000 people are believed to reside in Khan Sheikhon, while figures for Jasem are not available yet.

Additionally, on 20 November, WFP regained access to the sieged town of Al Wa’er in rural Homs with 6,350 family food rations for 31,750 people. The last time Al Wa’er was reached with food assistance was on 15 October with 4,000 family rations for 20,000 people.

Since the beginning of October, through its regular operations WFP was able to access 5 hard to reach locations, where humanitarian assistance had not been delivered for a protracted period of time, up to 15 months in the case of Al-Otaiba in Rural Damascus. Furthermore, over the same period, WFP trucks took part in 12 joint humanitarian convoys to 11 areas where heavy fighting or ongoing sieges had been hindering access for several months. Overall, 33,700 family food rations were delivered by WFP through joint humanitarian convoys to vulnerable household residing in hard-to-reach areas. A further 18,700 family food rations where delivered through WFP regular operations, bringing the total of people assisted in limited-access areas to over 260,000 between the beginning of October and mid-December.

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Bene�ciaries Targeted by Food Dispatches

July

August

September

October

November

Deir-ez-Zor Ar-Raqqa Al-Hasakeh AleppoPlanned

Dispatched

PlannedDispatched

PlannedDispatched

PlannedDispatched

PlannedDispatched

149,095 194,375 164,595 554,875183,775 198,000 2,795 555,310164,095 194,285 149,670 554,875204,095 110,000 70,500 62,500

164,095 194,285 149,670 554,875216,595 271,500 70,500 0254,094 269,285 217,170 729,875215,595 285,500 0 206,285254,095 269,285 217,170 729,8750 12,000 0 454,140

LOGISTICS CLUSTER During the reporting period, the WFP-led Logistics Cluster facilitated three joint humanitarian convoys to areas which had been unaccessible for a protracted period of time. A first inter-agency convoy reached Jasem, in Dara’a governorate, providing assistance to the location after nine months of interrupted access. WFP participated with 1,000 family food rations, 1.1 mt of high energy biscuits and 12.5 mt of fortified wheat flour, providing enough assistance to support 5,000 beneficiaries for one month.

Furthermore, on 10 and 12 December two inter-agency convoys reached the besieged areas of Khan Shiekhon in Idleb governorate since October 2013, enabling WFP to deliver a total of 3,000 family food rations to support 15,000 people for one month.

MARKET ANALYSISWFP market monitoring indicates that basic household items are generally available in most of the market locations surveyed, except in areas where volatile security conditions persist. However, in most of the market locations surveyed by WFP, high inflation continues to weaken households’ capacity to purchase essential goods. In Al-Hasakeh, the presence of armed groups along the key access routes generally means that access to the governorate is irregular and unpredictable. As a result, market supply chains are intermittently cut, and the availability of basic commodities varied on a day to day basis.

As a result of the Damascus-Homs highway closure, fuel supplies in the centreal and southern governorates have severely decreased. Although the road reportedly reopened on 7 December after the government regained control of Al-Nabek, security conditions on the route remain highly unstable and fighting is still ongoing. Should this situation continue for a protracted period of time, the central governorates are expected to witness a peak in food prices, particularly vegetables and fruits coming from the north and southern parts of the country.

Given the severe access constrains which have been preventing dispatches to the governorate of al-Hasakeh in the past few months, WFP has been seeking alternative routes to channel assistance to the area, including the use of the Yaroubieh border with Iraq. However, due to continued security concerns on the use of the Yaroubiyeh corridor, WFP, UNICEF and UNHCR set out to deliver humanitarian supplies to Al-Hassakeh via airlift rotations from Erbil. The first WFP-chartered flight landed on 15 December in Qamishly airport from Erbil with almost 40 metric tons of food including wheat flour, pasta, oil, sugar, salt, rice, canned beans and bulgur wheat. Over the next few days, WFP plans to use 11 more airlifts to move enough food to feed over 30,000 people for one month.

AIRLIFT FROM IRAQ

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WFP/Dina El-Kassaby

PIO-UNAMI / Aurora V. Alambra

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FEATURED UPDATE

MONITORING Access constraints and deteriorating security conditions continue to place a strain on the capacity of WFP staff to conduct direct monitoring in a number of locations, including in Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, Aleppo, Quneitra and Hama governorates, as well as parts of Rural Damascus.

In spite of these constraints, during the reporting period WFP conducted a total of 22 monitoring visits in Al-Hassakeh, Homs, Lattakia, Tartous, Damascus, Rural Damascus and Sweida. In Damascus, Rural Damascus and Sweida, monitors observed high levels of psychological vulnerability and exhaustion among beneficiaries. Moreover, in most monitored sites needs were found to exceed the assistance allocated to partners for distribution.

Door-to-door distribution was conducted in Tartous, Al-Hasakeh city and Qamishly, where targeted beneficiaries included not only internally displaced but also very vulnerable resident households with disabled children.

JOINT RAPID FOOD SECURITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT In November 2013, WFP and FAO with the Ministries of Social Affairs and Agriculture and Agrarian Reform conducted a Joint Rapid Food Security Needs Assessment (JRFSNA) to get a clearer picture of the extent, geographic distribution of poverty and food insecurity throughout Syria. Given the precarious security situation and complexities associated with conducting household level interviews, the methodology adopted involved focus group discussions with key informants in 60 districts of the 14 governorates of Syria. Through structured interviews, the informants were asked to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate chronic food insecurity and poverty for districts across the country. A questionnaire was used to collect information concerning IDPs and their food security status, including information such as population and location profiles, income sources, food availability and accessibility, food consumption and dietary diversity and coping strategies.

Preliminary assessment findings indicate that the food security of affected populations has been further compromised by the increasingly damaging impact of the conflict, when compared to previous estimates. According to the results, nearly 10 million people, or approximately half the country’s current population, are vulnerable to food insecurity and unable to purchase sufficient food to meet basic needs. Of these, an estimated 6.3 million are highly vulnerable and in critical need of sustained food assistance, marking an increase of over 50 percent compared to the last estimate of 4 million presented in June 2013.

Furthermore, JRFSNA findings suggest that food availability has been decreasing overtime, causing the affected population to be increasingly reliant on food assistance. In addition, high food prices, combined with displacement, livelihood losses and reduced household purchasing power, have further compromised families’ access to sufficient and nutritious foods. In this context, the resilience capacity of the conflict-affected population is continuously eroded, leading a growing number of vulnerable households to resort to negative coping strategies. These include the reductions in both the quantity and quality of food consumed, decreasing dietary diversity and selling assets. The vast majority of key informants reported that Syrian have changed their food consumption habits over the past 12 months, dramatically reducing the quantity of meat, chicken, fruit and milk consumed.

In line with previous assessments, some categories showed a higher degree of vulnerability to food insecurity, including IDPs, casual labourers, host communities, and small-scale farmers. Female headed households, which make up on average 8 percent of households in the communities surveyed, and households that have lost their primary bread winner, which make up on average 11 percent of households in the communities surveyed, are also considered to be amongst the most vulnerable. In addition, those with particular nutritional needs are expected to be the worst affected, including children and pregnant and lactating women. Accordingly, it is expected that assistance will be prioritised to reach those groups who are the most vulnerable to the damaging effects of conflict and displacement.

LEBANON

As a result, WFP plans to address the food security needs of vulnerable families, and support the logistics and telecommunication needs of the humanitarian community, and is thus appealing for US$947 million in the 2014 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (SHARP). WFP represents 42 percent of the total appeal. By the end of 2014, WFP plans to provide food assistance to some 4.25 million beneficiaries inside Syria, through in-kind food assistance as well as school feeding and nutritional support programmes. In addition, it aims to maintain its ‘free-to-user’ service provision of transport and storage, especially for inter-agency convoys, whilst supporting the decentralization of the humanitarian community through the establishment of UN Hubs.

As a result, WFP plans to address the food security needs of vulnerable families, and support the logistics and telecommunication needs of the humanitarian community, and is thus appealing for US$ 947 million in the 2014 SHARP. WFP represents 42 percent of the total appeal. By the end of 2014, WFP plans to provide food assistance to some 4.25 million beneficiaries inside Syria, through in-kind food assistance as well as through school feeding and nutritional support programmes. In addition it aims to maintain its ‘free-to-user’ service provision of transport and storage, especially for inter-agency convoys, whilst supporting the decentralization of the presence of the humanitarian community through the establishment of UN Hubs.

The roll-out of electronic vouchers, known as e-cards, is nearing completion. In addition to Beirut, Mount Lebanon and southern Lebanon, the roll-out of the e-card was successfully completed in the Bekaa Valley. E-cards are now being distributed in northern Lebanon, the first of which was activated on 13 December. The north is the last region in Lebanon to transition to the e-cards, meaning the whole country will be using e-cards by the end of the year.

The smooth roll-out can in part be attributed to WFP’s partners, Danish Refugee Council, World Vision, Premiere Urgence, Action Contre la Faim, Save the Children & InterSOS who ensured that volunteers were available in all of the WFP contracted shops during the first days of card activation in each area. Volunteers assisted shopkeepers as they familiarized themselves with the new system and with the point-of-sale (POS) machines. With the POS machines, shopkeepers will swipe the e-card and enter the amount of the transaction, which will then be automatically deducted from the beneficiary’s e-card. At the conclusion of the transaction, the POS machine will print two receipts: one for the shopkeeper and one for the beneficiary. Given that mobile netoworks can be unreliable at times, POS machines that relied on SIM cards have now switched to landlines.

In November, WFP injected US$12.15 million into the Lebanese economy through the voucher programme, bringing the total amount injected into the local in economy to more than US$109 million in 2013.

ARSAL REFUGEE INFLUXAs a result of a significant escalation of violence in the Qalamoun area of Rural Damscus, a sudden influx of refugees arrived into Arsal, North Bekaa, just a few kilometres from the Syrian border. Between 15 November and 5 December, 4,838 families (21,094 individuals) arrived in Arsal, in addition to the 1,530 families who arrived prior to the influx but were awaiting registration. WFP food parcel distribution began immediately in Arsal in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC).

By 10 December WFP and DRC had distributed food parcels to approximately 3,434 families while more distributions are planned. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross distributed 670 parcels on the 28 November. The WFP Bekaa Sub-Office has been closely monitoring the food availability and market prices in Arsal in the wake of the influx, as the Arsal area is already hosting 4,428 families (19,495 individuals), of which approximately 3,000 are targeted for food assistance. All indications thus far have showed that Arsal markets can absorb the additional population and market prices have not yet been affected.

The rate of new arrivals in Arsal has steadily decreased in the last two weeks and emergency distribution of assistance has been completed in the area.

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CURRENT WEATHER IMPACTThe year’s first winter snowstorm, called ‘Alexa’, has affected the entire region. On 11 December, Lebanon was hit by snow in the northern regions of Akkar and Wadi Khaled in addition to the eastern towns of Hermel and Baalbek. Heavy rain was registered in the capital and its suburbs as well as the Metn district. Overall, the heavy weather front has resulted in many road blocks.

So far, WFP operations have not been affected. All of WFP’s distribution sites are indoors, allowing beneficiary to wait inside, minimizing their exposure to harsh weather conditions. In addition, two of the three sub-offices are now implementing e-cards. Thus, the voucher value has been automatically uploaded on each e-card meaning that beneficiaries do not have to travel to distribution sites. Most beneficiaries live closer to a shop where they can purchase food items, than a distribution site.

In addition, WFP has a contingency stock of 30,000 food parcels that WFP can use in emergency situations. These parcels help cover a family’s food needs for a period of one month through the provision of mixed rations of some 19 different items (including rice, wheat, flour, canned foods, package cheese, sugar, tea and coffee, etc.). Each food parcel provides 1,200 kcal per person per day.

MONITORINGAs the transition from paper vouchers to e-cards is nearly complete, distributions are expected to decrease significantly. Given the widespread field presence of WFP’s implementing partners, the Lebanon country office and partners are in the process of intensifying monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, including performing household visits and monitoring of shops. Monitoring training for partners is currently underway in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and South Lebanon. These efforts are expected to result in a significant increase in the efficiency and frequency of M&E activities in Lebanon. Furthermore, such cooperation is expected to strengthen existing partnerships and build the capacity of local NGOs and volunteers.

All monitoring targets were met for the month of October with 60 visits conducted. The planned 180 post-distribution monitoring visits for the November cycle are also nearing completion.

Reports have shown a general satisfaction among both merchants and beneficiaries with the transition to e-cards. Merchants are receiving payments within 48 hours of transactions, while beneficiaries expressed their satisfaction with not having to travel to distribution sites. Indirect feedback from the shops revealed that more and more beneficiaries are using the e-cards with greater frequency, and, as a result, are purchasing more fresh products, including meat, cheese and vegetables.

The third price monitoring report covering the period May to July 2013 was disseminated on 5 December. The results showed that an average food basket increased from US$29.14 in May, to US$30.58 in July. Despite the slight increase, overall commodity prices remained quite stable across Lebanon over the three month reporting period. However, in June 2013 the Government of Lebanon published a Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, showing that the overall level of prices increased by nine percent compared to June 2012. Food commodity prices and beverages increased by three percent compared to a year before.

WFP is currently exploring the necessity of increasing the voucher value in order to compensate for the recent commodity price increase.

WFP/ Laure Chadraoui

JORDAN

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CHALLENGESInsecurity remains a major concern for WFP operations. During the reporting period, several security incidents took place, including a bomb attack near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut and the continuing clashes in Tripoli.

On 20 November and 3 December, voucher distribution in Wadi-Khaled was cancelled due to insecurity. Beneficiaries demonstrated and blocked the road because they were unhappy about the lack of winterization efforts and job opportunities. As a precautionary measure, WFP cancelled distribution during these two days but resumed distribution folllowing the incidents.

WFP Jordan continued to scale-up its operations in November and December, piloting e-cards in three governorates and King Abdullah Park (KAP) transit centre, while continuing its transition to voucher assistance in Al Za’atri camp. In total, WFP reached almost 530,000 Syrian refugees with food assistance in November. Throughout its operations, WFP has consistently reached an average of 97 percent of the planned UNHCR manifest of refugees each month. The three percent not reached either were not reachable by cell phone, had returned to Syria or chose not to attend distributions.

E-CARDSWFP began its pilot of e-cards on 12 November reaching 135 households of the planned 150 in Amman, Mafraq and Zarqa governorates. On 18 November, the partner bank automatically transferred JOD24 (US$34) per person to the household e-card for the November cycle.

Following the pilot, WFP and the partner bank also conducted e-card distribution in KAP transit centre reaching 188 households of the planned 194 households. In preparation, WFP and the bank conducted a beneficiary training at distribution centres on the use of e-cards and provided beneficiaries with an information leaflet. On 5 December, the partner bank automatically transferred JOD24 (US$34) per person to the household e-card for the December cycle. In January 2014, WFP will begin the transition from paper to e-voucher in selected governorates.

Overall, targeted families and retailers were satisfied with the e-voucher mechanism (100 percent of those questioned preferred e-cards to paper vouchers) and were comfortable with the ease of use of e-cards and using a PIN. In addition, beneficiaries mentioned that the e-card system allows them to use their monthly allowance at any time or date during the month. However, the majority of the targeted families contacted had reported that they spent the entire monthly value at one time. WFP is therefore now revising its sensiti-zation sessions as well as advocacy material to better explain the shopping flexibility provided by the e-card. Furthermore, WFP and the bank are planning to conduct two sessions with the targeted

families and participating shops to discuss and obtain additional feedback regarding the pilot.

WFP/ Laure Chadraoui

MONITORING

WFP/ Laure Chadraoui

AL ZA’ATRI CAMPIn November, WFP maintained the JOD12 (US$17) individual vouchers with a similarly reduced food basket. In total, WFP reached 114,316 refugees in November, including newly arrived refugees. Distribution figures were lower during the second cycle of November due to the recent UNHCR camp sweep to verify the actual number of refugees in the camp. WFP was the first agency to conduct distributions based on the new Verification Assistance Cards (VACs) provided by UNHCR to each beneficiary household in Al Za’atri camp, reaching about 76,151 or 72 percent of the prior cycle during the second November cycle.

The first distribution cycle of dry rations and partial vouchers for December commenced on 2 December and is currently in progress. Once supermarkets are in place and able to accommodate the entire population of Al Za’atri camp with full value vouchers, WFP will complete its transition to vouchers in the camp. The two selected supermarkets have begun construction in Al Za’atri camp with plans to conduct a soft launch for cash in mid-December before beginning to accept WFP vouchers on 1 January 2014.

WFP reached 11,765 students in Al Za’atri camp with date bars during the reporting period. Registration and enrolment by UNICEF is ongoing.

Heavy rains on 5 December led to the flooding of tents in Al Za’atri camp, leaving an estimated 350 people unable to spend the night in their tents. Affected households were accommodated in a Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) shelter and received WFP welcome meals for the night. WFP is increasing the quantity of food distributed in Zaatari refugee camp to increase the caloric intake of vulnerable Syrians during the harshest winter months. The food basket includes rice, lentils, bulgur wheat, sugar and salt.

VOUCHER ASSISTANCE IN JORDANIAN COMMUNITIESWFP began the November cycle of voucher assistance on 29 October, reaching 415,658 beneficiaries or 98 percent of the planned UNHCR manifest. Voucher distribution for the December cycle began on 3 December in

local communities and is planned to be completed by 19 December; WFP plans to reach 438,144 beneficiaries during the December voucher cycle in local communities.

During the reporting period, joint market assessment visits were conducted for additional retailers to accommodate the growing number of beneficiaries and to reduce the expenditure on transportation for beneficiaries. Three shops were assessed in Rwashid (Mafraq), two shops in Aqaba and two shops in Balqa. From these assessments, WFP recommended the addition of three shops for the December voucher cycle. Beneficiaries can currently redeem their WFP food vouchers in one of 66 partner shops in all governorates of Jordan.

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WFP/Laure Chadraoui

WFP/Laure Chadraoui

TURKEY

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MONITORINGRecent monitoring findings indicate that WFP’s voucher programme, through the injection of cash into local retail-ers, has increased their ability to purchase productive assets such as refrigerators and IT equipment, thus leading to the economic development of local participating businesses as well as their suppliers. Since January 2013, WFP has injected more than US$100 million into local Jordanian businesses through the voucher programme.

Beginning on 1 December, WFP transferred the first half of US$4.6 million to the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) for upload to beneficiary cards this month. WFP is currently assisting 14 out of 20 camps in Turkey. In 2014, in conjunction with the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency of Turkey (AFAD) and in line with needs, WFP and its partner TRC will seek to provide assistance to the full estimated camp population of 300,000 refugees with the e-Food Card Programme. Beneficiaries will receive a food assistance entitlement of 80 Turkish liras (approximately US$40 under the current exchange rate) per person per month through a cost-sharing agreement with AFAD. Through this agreement, 60 Turkish liras will be allocated to beneficiaries’ WFP/TRC e-Food Card and an additional 20 Turkish liras from AFAD for food purchases will be allocated through AFAD’s own delivery mecha-nisms.

WFP conducted large-scale price monitoring over the past two months, collecting prices of a set of basic commodities (rice, bulgur, lentils, oil, sugar, salt and canned meat) in more than 130 different shops in all governorates of Jordan. The monitoring included 60 partner and 70 non-partner shops, allowing WFP to compare prices between the two. In general, prices were similar between WFP partner and non-partner shops. Moreover, the current JOD24 (US$34) voucher value per person per month continues to cover the basic food basket in WFP’s partner shops, confirming that beneficiaries are able to obtain sufficient food to cover their basic needs. Balqa was the cheapest governorate to purchase the food basket with Aqaba being the most expensive. Amongst the governorates with the highest refugee populations, Amman and Zarqa are more expensive than Irbid and Mafraq. These findings are similar to the last food commodity price assess-ment conducted in March 2013.

MARKET ANALYSIS

In addition to the US$39.7 million transferred to Syrians residing in Turkish camps since the e-Food Card Programme was launched in October 2012, WFP has also contributed to the Turkish economy through its procurement of commodities in-country. Commodities purchased from Turkey have been

WFP AND THE TURKISH ECONOMY used to support WFP operations in response to the crisis in Syria, as well as food assistance as far abroad as Honduras. In 2013 alone, 155,262 mt of commodities have been procured in Turkey valued at over US$113.3 million. Thus, WFP has injected a total of over US$153 million in the Turkish economy since October 2012.

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VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT

In November, WFP continued providing food assistance to vulnerable Syrian refugees residing in camp settings across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and in Al Obady camp, Anbar governorate. In total, WFP assisted some 96,781 Syrian refugees in November, the highest number of people assisted in one month since the start of emergency operations in November 2012.

THE ONECARD SYSTEMFollowing completion of supply chain and retail market assessments as part of ongoing preparations to launch the ‘OneCard’ project, a call for expression of interest was issued to local and international NGOs and financial institu-tions operating in Iraq. The OneCard, which will be implemented jointly with UNHCR, will serve as a common assis-tance platform enabling beneficiaries to cover their food, non-food and cash needs through one electronic card. WFP intends to pilot the OneCard project to assist vulnerable non-camp refugees in Suleimaniyah governorate in early 2014. Evaluation of the responses is in progress in order to identify cooperating partners for implementation of the pilot as well as a general food assistance programme to Syrian refugees in Suleimaniyah in 2014.

VOUCHER ASSISTANCEIn November, approximately US$2 million was distributed to 64,405 Syrian refugees in Domiz camp through the WFP food vouchers programme. Although beneficiaries were provided two vouchers of equal amounts, allowing for greater purchasing flexibility and hence encouraging the purchase of more fresh food products throughout the month, most families redeemed their vouchers in one go. WFP will work to increase awareness among the benefi-ciaries on the advantage of the two vouchers.

IN-KIND FOOD ASSISTANCEWFP is providing in-kind food assistance in seven camps across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as one refugee camp in Arbat governorate, central Iraq. In November, 30,390 Syrian refugees received monthly family food rations in Akre, Arbat, Basirma, Dara Shakran, Gewilan, Kawr Gosk and Qushtapa camps across the Kurdistan region. In Al Obady camp in central Iraq, 1,986 Syrian refugees received individual monthly food rations for November.

SCHOOL FEEDINGWith the creation of new camps following a large influx of refugees into the Kurdistan Region in August, WFP expanded its school feeding programme in Iraqi refugee camps to reach children studying in newly established camp schools. Currently, WFP provides daily high-energy biscuits, fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, to each student in Domiz, Arbat, Basirma, Dara Shakran, Kawr Gosk and Qushtapa camps, as well as Al Obady camp in Arbat governorate. In November, 8,424 Syrian boys and girls received a daily snack in order to improve enrolment and regular attendance while increasing alertness in the classroom and improving nutritional status.

In Akre and Gewilan camps, where there are currently no schools, 502 families with children under 5 years of age also received high-energy biscuits.

WFP plans to conduct a vulnerability assessment of Syrian refugees in Dohuk, Erbil and Suleimaniyah gover-norates. The assessment will be conducted in collaboration with local authorities and humanitarian partners and will determine a targeting exercise in order to reach vulnerable individuals living in non-camp settings. This is timely given the governors of Dohuk and Suleimaniyah have requested support in reaching refugees residing in non-camp settings. The assessment will also enable a coordinated and effective response to those in need from all humanitarian partners including WFP.

WFP/Nelly Opiyo

IRAQ

13

FOOD PRICE TRENDSEgypt continues to suffer from slow economic growth. Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, increased by 11.1 percent between September 2012 and September 2013. During the same period, food and beverage prices saw a sizeable increase of 14 percent. The current economic slowdown, inflation and increasing cost of living are challenging the ability of vulnerable households (Egyptian and Syrian) to withstand shocks and fulfil their basic needs.

The last food security monitoring report, covering the third quarter of 2013 (July - September 2013), saw the cost of the average food basket increase by 2.8 percent between June and September 2013. Prices rose across all regions, with Upper Egypt seeing the steepest increase of 4.4 percent between June and September 2013. Accord-ing to the report, which was jointly published by the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center and WFP, over 66 percent of a vulnerable household's expenditure is spent on food. For more information see:http://www.wfp.org/content/egypt-food-observatory-2013

In addition, WFP participated in a “Joint Needs Assessment for Syrian Refugees in Egypt”, which is expected to be released by the end of December by UNHCR. The assessment updates the previous assessment conducted in November 2012 across Egypt and follow-up assessments in Damietta and Alexandria in February 2013.

MONITORINGResults from regular WFP programme monitoring between June and November 2013 reveal that after receiving food voucher assistance, acceptable food consumption increased from 70 percent to 80 percent and the Food Consumption Score (FCS) increased from 53.4 to 61. Monitoring has also found that after receiving a WFP food voucher, the number of households eating three meals per day increased from 19 percent to 41 percent and those eating only one meal a day decreased from 24 percent to 9 percent. There was also a significant decrease in the Coping Strategy Index (CSI) in refugees receiving a voucher in Cairo (CSI of 14.1 to a CSI of 8.13) and a decrease

FOOD VOUCHER DISTRIBUTIONThe November food voucher distribution cycle has been completed with WFP reaching nearly 62,000 Syrian refugees in greater Cairo, Alexandria and Damietta, including 1,900 Palestinian refugees from Syria.

With a voucher value of approximately US$30 per person per month, WFP food voucher distributions injected US$1.7 million into the Egyptian economy in November. Since the start of the emergency operation in Egypt in February 2013, WFP has injected over US$9.1 million into the local economy through its voucher programme.

December cycle voucher distribution has commenced and is targeting over 77,000 beneficiaries including 75,000 Syrian refugees and 2,500 Palestinian refugees from Syria.

WFP is currently in the final stage of signing an agreement with an additional supermarket in greater Cairo in order to ease overcrowding during the timeframe allocated to redeem vouchers. This is particularly important as benefi-ciary numbers increase and given that more than half of the current number of beneficiaries in Egypt are located in greater Cairo.

WFP is currently transitioning from geographic targeting to household vulnerability targeting in order to ensure that the most food-insecure Syrian refugees receive food assistance. In order to ensure a smooth

TARGETINGtransition, WFP is providing training and assistance to its partners, including Caritas in Alexandria and Islamic Relief in greater Cairo, on the household vulnerability assessment.

EGYPT

overall from 13.8 to 11.28. After receiving a food voucher there was a 29 percent decrease in reducing the number of meals eaten and 11 percent drop in limiting portion size, while 8 percent fewer respondents were spending savings and 6 percent less were borrowing or buying food on credit.

THE REGION IN 2014A greater number of Syrian families are expected to seek refuge in the region, with UN projections placing the expected number of refugees at 4.5 million people. Given that 2.3 million Syrians, half of whom are children, have already crossed into neigh-bouring countries humanitarian needs are expected to grow exponentially. As a result, WFP plans to address the food security needs of vulnerable refugees and is thus appealing for US$1.08 billion in the upcom-ing sixth Regional Response Plan. WFP will represent 25 percent of the total appeal, illustrating the vital importance of food assis-tance in camp and non-camp settings across the region.

E-CARDS AND THE ONE CARD SYSTEM The market systems and financial infrastructures of all countries in the region provide suitable environments for voucher assistance. As a result, voucher assistance now represents over 90 percent of WFP’s support to refugees from Syria. Since the beginning of 2013, WFP has injected over US$265 million into the economies of host coun-tries. Currently, all of Turkey’s current caseload is assisted through an e- card programme, with Lebanon planning to complete its transition to e-cards this month. In Jordan, an e-card pilot is currently underway, with plans to com-mence a transition in January 2014. Across the region, WFP plans to transition its entire voucher assistance to e-cards in the coming year, aiming to reach over 2.7 million refugees through this modality with in 2014.

In addition to the flexibility and sense of normalcy provided by a voucher modality, e-cards offer beneficiaries even greater ease when purchasing food. Using e-cards, families can spend the balance of their voucher in multiple visits, providing beneficiaries, who often have limited food storage capacity, with greater flexibility over food purchases. Furthermore, e-cards negate the need to travel to distribution sites as they are automatically recharged every month. Given that WFP has already been forced to delay or cancel voucher distributions in 2013 as a result of security concerns in Lebanon and Egypt, e-cards allow WFP to provide consistent food assistance while ensuring the safety of beneficiaries, as well as WFP and partner staff.

In addition to transitioning to e-cards across the region, WFP will also explore the use of the ‘OneCard’ system in all five regional operations, with the aim of enabling beneficiaries to cover their food, non-food and cash needs through one single electronic card.

FEATURED UPDATE

14

Food Assistance in the Region in 2013

FUNDING, SHORTFALLS AND PIPELINE BREAKS

WFP REGIONAL OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

Key Figures

Vouchers

Food Distribution

Valid

Thru

12/19

Month/Year

1234

LEBANON

US$110

million

US$90

millionJORDAN

US$37.9millionTURKEY

US$18.3million

IRAQ

US$9.1

millionEGYPT

Total:US$

265.3million

November Distributions

13

EGYPTLEBANON IRAQTURKEYJORDAN

Valid

Thru

12/19

Month/Year

1234

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

600,000

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

0

Jordan voucher �gures include partial voucher distributions in Al Za’atri camp, where bene�ciaries also recieve reduced in-kind food rations. Reconciliation of �gures ongoing.

Lebanon

Jordan

Turkey

Iraq

Egypt

TOTAL

WFP in the RRP6

$501,756,377

$305,050,000

$126,976,760

$94,132,785

$52,568,244

$1,080,484,166

Food

Logistics

EmergencyTelecommunications

Education

Nutrition

TOTAL

$913,819,593

$12,060,910

$1,584,010

$6,512,829

$13,141,320

$947,118,662

WFP in the SHARPBased on assessments conducted in both Syria and the region, WFP plans to reach almost 7 million vulnerable Syrians by the end of 2014. For these operations, WFP will need to raise approximately US$2 billion in the coming year. WFP is the largest appealing agency in the SHARP and the second largest in the RRP6.

Money injected into the local economy since the start of 2013:

syriacrisis.info@wfp.org

Rebecca Richards, Head

Mobile: +962 (0) 798947954 or E-Mail: rebecca.richards@wfp.org Sepideh Soltaninia Mobile: +962 (0) 799862516 or Email: sepideh.soltaninia@wfp.org

Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russia, Spain,

Switzerland, , Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, the United States and private donors.

China