Middle East - UNICEF Humanitarian Appeals 2019-2021

July 2019 - Humanitarian needs stemming from the crises in Syria and Iraq remain significant throughout the Middle East. Continued violence in Syria raises little prospects for the voluntary safe sustainable and dignified return of over 5.6 million refugees in the region. Internally displaced persons range in the millions in Syria and Iraq and refugees facing protracted displacement in host countries continue to face acute humanitarian needs in Jordan and Lebanon. With GAC’s support the project is providing flexible regional funding to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on a multiyear basis for its emergency operations in Iraq Jordan Lebanon and Syria. Regional funding provides UNICEF with the flexibility to allocate funds to acute humanitarian needs that are critically underfunded and provides the flexibility to respond to emerging needs. Project activities include: (1) providing people with access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities; (2) treating children for severe acute malnutrition; (3) providing emergency education programming for children; (4) ensuring protection services for children adolescent girls and women; and (5) providing basic healthcare.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased access to safe drinking water sanitation facilities and hygiene education; (2) increased access to services and commodities to identify and treat acute malnutrition for the most vulnerable including children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women; (3) increased school enrollment and attendance rate; (4) increased access to protection services particularly for children and women; and (5) increased access to basic health care services. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained for the populations in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.