The UN refugee agency announced on March 13 the appointment of a veteran of emergency operations to coordinate its approach to the refugee crisis in Syria and neighbouring countries. As Regional Refugee Coordinator, Panos Moumtzis will be based in Geneva and work closely with the refugee agency\'s Middle East and North Africa Bureau and UNHCR representatives in concerned countries. The Arabic speaker\'s brief will also be to ensure smooth cooperation with inter-agency coordination mechanisms. He will travel frequently to the region.

UNHCR Jordan held an internal strategy meeting on Monday, March 19, as operation enters a new phase in response to Syrian unrest. The meeting presented an opportunity for broad-based discussion on the transition between an Iraqi-led operation to management of two distinct operations. An overarching theme was leveraging BO Amman\'s expertise in delivering assistance and protection in an urban context to Syrian persons of concern.

UNHCR are now distributing school kits to all registered Syrian children in an effort to encourage school attendance at local Jordanian public schools. Kits include bag, along with reading and writing materials.