World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

The main tool of the Participatory Assessment is the Semi-Structured Interviews; applied in focus group discussions on a few key topics with groups separated by age and gender, and more in depth key informant interviews with persons directly engaged in the situation and possessing valuable first-hand knowledge, including community leaders and Government officials. This process results in detailed, qualitative information in relation to specific topics and allows for an initial analysis of the challenges faced by women, girls, men and boys in the community. It is also an opportunity to gather insights into cultural practices, traditional protection mechanisms, and other issues which maybe affecting community members. The Task Force developed two check lists to structure focus group discussions and key informant interviews around key themes regarding protection, access to health and education, food, child labor, economic conditions and livelihoods, dynamics of co-existence, sense of community and future plans.

From March 2011 till June 2012, according to Government estimates, more than 120,000 Syrians moved and stayed in Jordan as a result of the unrest. The fact that Jordan has left its borders open to Syrians and is known for its favourable protection climate has further augmented the number of arrivals. Many Syrians arrived already destitute, having had to deplete their resources while still in Syria. Unlike Iraqis who are concentrated in the capital Amman, Syrians have scattered throughout Jordan, with the largest concentrations in the border districts (Irbid and Mafraq) as well as Amman, Zarqa, Karak and Ma’an.

In response to the ongoing situation in the country and following the agreement of the Syrian Government, which was expressed in a letter dated 8 March 2012, sent by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, a Government-led humanitarian assessment mission, supported by a UN-OIC joint mission, gathered information from national sources, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), local community leaders, religious figures, local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and Community-Based Organizations (CBO), ordinary Syrians and professionals from all communities and political views between 18 and 26 March 2012 and came up with the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan. Both FAO and WFP participated in the mission in close collaboration with UN system and relevant line ministries and came up with their respective project profiles under the response plan. FAO appealed for a total of USD 8 million under the livelihood sector to restore livelihoods so as to avoid the exacerbation of existing humanitarian needs, assist affected poor rural population to restore and/or sustain their livelihood, and support families who have lost their primary income earner during the events. Similarly, WFP appealed for a total of USD71 million under the food sector to provide food to people affected by the ongoing events and support and strengthen SARC’s capacity to assess and respond to food needs.

This rapid assessment assesses the food needs of the increasing number of new arrivals from Iraq and advises on the most appropriate food aid response.