HIGHLIGHTS
· SYRIA: UNICEF Syria has received only 22 per cent of the US$ 68.4 million required, and is facing a gap that may jeopardize UNICEF’s ability to maintain and expand critical life-saving interventions for children – including large-scale vaccinations, access to safe water, and scale-up of psychosocial support for children. For March, UNICEF urgently requires US$ 3 million to reach 2 million women and children with essential non-food items.
· LEBANON: So far 207,457 Syrian and Lebanese children have been vaccinated against measles in a campaign covering ten provinces with the highest concentration of Syrian refugees. With confirmed reports of measles cases, work is underway to extend the vaccinations to the rest of the country.
· JORDAN: UNICEF Jordan has received only 9 per cent of the US$ 57 million urgently required until June 2013 to continue providing assistance to Syrian refugees in Jordan.
· IRAQ: In light of typhoid cases reported in Syria UNICEF and partners launch preventive hygiene promotion efforts to ensure safe water supply and raise community awareness in Al Qaim Camp.
· TURKEY: Turkish officials estimate that there are over 100,000 Syrians refugees living outside the camps in Gaziantep, Kilis, Hatay and Sanliurfa. UNICEF together with other UN agencies will work together on the collection of information on refugees outside the camps to initiate a response for children.
· REGION: The number of refugees exceeded one million according to UNHCR figures.