Addressing the Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Syria

Country: Syria

Topic: Emergencies

Mercy Corps is providing assistance to Iraqi refugees in Syria to promote their future well-being, whether they return to Iraq or are resettled elsewhere. Our programs strengthen the capacity of local institutions to effectively support the Iraqi population in Syria, promote greater understanding and cooperation between Syria and the United States and also address the needs of vulnerable Syrians.

Assisting Iraqi and Syrian families and youth

International sources estimate that there are between 800,000 and 1.2 million Iraqi refugees in Syria, an influx that has put significant strain on the resources. Mercy Corps established an office in Damascus in February 2008, after registering with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since that time we have:

• Distributed emergency food boxes to Iraqi families. Mercy Corps and a local partner have provided food provisions and hygiene kits to over 850 families since October 2007.
• Provided computer training to Iraqi refugees and members of Syrian host communities in cooperation with the Syrian Computer Society and the Arab Union of ICT Associations.

Over the next twelve months Mercy Corps aims to:

• Train 3,500 Iraqi and Syrian youth so they can attain their International Computers Driving License (ICDL), an internationally recognized computer certification. With funding from the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Mercy Corps and its partners will assist private training centers establish teaching centers in neighborhoods with high concentrations of Iraqi refugees.
• Provide vocational courses and certification to 640 Iraqi and Syrian youth. Courses include mechanics, hairdressing, English language, computer repair and other technical courses valued in the labor market.

Through these courses, Mercy Corps aims to empower Iraqi refugees and disadvantages Syrians and increase their chances for finding meaningful employment.

Our Regional Response to the Crisis in Iraq

Mercy Corps has worked in Iraq since 2003, providing both humanitarian and development assistance. With funding from USAID, BPRM, OFDA, WFP, OCHA, UNICEF and others, Mercy Corps has provided assistance to over four million Iraqis. Programs build or repair public infrastructure, promote women to become full partners with men in development, assist persons with disabilities advocate for their own rights, provide emergency relief to displaced populations, improve education and opportunities for youth, strengthen civil society organizations, and increase access to computer technology. With 200 national and expatriate staff working in ten governorates from North to South, Mercy Corps is making a difference in hundreds of communities.

In Jordan, Mercy Corps is working with local partners to provide non-formal education to Iraqi children not in school, academic and social support to Iraqis in school, and technical and vocational training for youth aged 18 to 25. Mercy Corps is also working to empower Iraqis with disabilities and their families through the development of Independent Living Plans, organizing peer empowerment activities, and providing specialized equipment and services. In addition, Mercy Corps supports partners to provide community services (life skills and vocational trainings, peer support groups, individual counseling, recreation) to Iraqis in eight community centers across northern Jordan.

Last updated: November 2008