Highlights
· In Syria, access to humanitarian assistance for children in hard-to-reach areas continues to remain a significant challenge. The UN estimates that up to 2 million children are still not being reached due to deteriorating security, shifting frontlines, capacity limitations and administrative hurdles.
· The Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO completed the 14th national polio immunization campaign from 31 May to 4 June 2015, targeting 2.9 million children under five. Final coverage figures show a total of 2,267,455 children vaccinated (80% of the target).
· UNICEF Lebanon has recently started working in the neighborhoods of Tripoli which are affected by sectarian clashes. Water and sanitation issues are often a source of conflict between the neighborhoods in Tripoli, therefore investments in WASH infrastructure in these communities will create positive externalities, mitigate tensions, and contribute to community building and cooperation.
· In Jordan, UNICEF and Save the Children International released a report on Child Labour in Za’atari camp, which estimates 3,300 children in the camp are working. Many children are involved in “worst forms” of child labour with detrimental effects on their health and safety. UNICEF transferred a fifth monthly payment as part of the Child Cash Grant programme, reaching 56,196 girls and boys from the 15,752 vulnerable Syrian refugee families living in communities and urban centres in Jordan.
· In Turkey Since the beginning of 2015, 65,724 children have been benefited from school supplies and UNICEF is currently ensuring that additional children receive this support in time for the new school year. UNICEF and its government partners (AFAD and Ministry of National Education) are moving forward on school construction, identifying necessary land and financial resources to enable a rapid construction process.
· In Turkey, in order to provide a protective environment to children during the summer months, MoNE and UNICEF have worked together to keep many schools serving Syrian children open for summer school. 370 recreation kits to serve 33,300 children will be delivered to 211 schools to provide children and adolescents with semi-structured recreational activities.