Attachments
JUNE HIGHLIGHTS
As 30 June 2014, 220, 210 Syrians were registered with UNHCR (82,0020 households). An estimated 1% of the population is pending registration at the end of the reporting period.
During the reporting month, the Residency Department in Erbil commenced the issuance and renewal of residency permits for Syrian refugees residing in urban areas within the governorate. The process is comprised of several stages, including a screening by the security authorities and verification and renewal of UNHCR documentation. The documentation by the authorities in the improvement of protection situation of the urban refugee population which consitutes on average 55% of the total registered Syrian population in KR-I.
The Action plan for verification of Syrian refugee population was finalized as a result of series of discussions and consultations with host authorities, technical experts and various protection actors at the field level. At the end of the reporting period, procurement and training of staff is underway to ensure a smooth implementation of the exercise in all three governorates of the KR-I. Importantly, the planned exercise contains a biometrics component which is introduced at the operational level for the first time.
Multi-functional teams (MFTs) continued to monitor the situation at the border, assessing the nature of individual returns to Syria, as well as new arrivals to the KR-I. Advocacy for access to asylum for persons in need of international protection is ongoing, as well as interventions at various levels to prevent deportation of persons with international protection needs.
In course of the reporting month, the SGBV sub-Working group finalized the SOPs on SGBV and prepared an action plan on the roll-out. The plan includes specific training activities for the frontline workers from partner organizations involved in identification and referral of SGBV cases .
The situation for refugees in Al-Qaim continued to deteriorate due to the conflict in Anbar. Many refugees left the camp and crossed into Syria. However, some refugees returned to the Al-Obaidy camp as the situation in Albu Kamal (Syria) was dire.
From June 2014, Al-Obaidy camp became inaccessible to UN agencies and other humanitarian staff. Nevertheless, UNHCR’s partner, ISHO, continues to provide basic services to the refugees (distributing bread, kerosene, and cash for complementary food and ice blocks).