HIGHLIGHTS

• Syrian refugees exceed 1.5 million

• J-RANS II finds significant deterioration of the humanitarian situation

• Health needs grow more acute

• Donor funding increases ahead of revision to U.N. appeals

Assistance to the Affected in Syrian Conflict - SYR 121 (revision 4)

Appeal Target: US$ 9,858,485
Funds Received: US$ 6,042,414
Balance Requested: US$ 3,816,071

Geneva, 23 May 2012

Dear Colleagues,

SC/11013

Security Council
6969th Meeting (AM)

Grave Turmoil’ Threatens Regional Stability, Warns United Nations Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process

With “grave turmoil” on the ground threatening stability across the Middle East, a top United Nations official warned the Security Council today that the coming weeks would be critical on two major diplomatic fronts — negotiations to halt the increasingly bloody crisis in Syria, and ending the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This figure, which includes 1.5 million who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, represents about 38 per cent of the country’s population.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK:

 Over 60,000 refugess received clothes vouchers, blankets, quilts, kitchen sets, matresses, recreation kits for children and other household items;

 Some 14,000 food vouchers were distributed;

 Over 8,000 refugees received hygiene kits and 3,000 received baby kits;

 More than 5,700 students were supported with educational, psychosocial and recreational activities in public schools or in community centers across Lebanon;

 Over 3,700 patients benefited from primary health care services;

Security incidents and shellings are hampering UNRWA’s ability to respond to the needs of Palestinian refugees inside Syria.

By Apostolis Fotiadis

Apostolis Fotiadis interviews Panos Moumtzis, UNHCR regional coordinator for Syrian refugees.

ATHENS, May 18 2013 (IPS) - With no end in sight for the ongoing two-year war in Syria, the ensuing humanitarian crisis continues to escalate, with over 1 million refugees having fled to neighbouring countries and at least another 3 million displaced within Syria.

17-05-2013 Operational Update

Refugees from the fighting in Syria continue to stream into Lebanon. The ICRC is determined to do its part in the effort to help them.

IOM provides assistance to internally displaced persons, stranded migrants and third-country refugees inside Syria as well as Syrian refugees, Iraqi and Lebanese returnees and vulnerable host communities in the neighbouring countries of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

IOM Regional Response to the Syria Crisis Situation Report - 16 May 2013