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.

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.

Les deux derniers grand convois de transfert des réfugiés Maliens du Centre de transit de Fassala a Mbera seront organises ce Samedi 17 et Dimanche 18, avec un total de prés de 11,000. Vu, les arrivées quotidienne a Fassala, en moyenne 300 par jour, un groupe de l'équipe d'enregistrement sera maintenu sur place afin de les enregistrer puis de les acheminer sur le camp de Mbera.

Au cours de sa visite en Mauritanie, le coordinateur pour la situation du Mali Mr. Tapsoba Valentin ensemble avec les représentantes du HCR et de UNICEF en Mauritanie se sont rendus au camp de transit de Fassala puis au Camp de Mbera ou ils ont rencontre l’équipe d'urgence du HCR et la famille des humanitaires. A cette occasion Mr. Tapsoba devant la communauté réfugiés a remercie les autorités locales pour leur générosité et a félicité l’équipe d'urgence pour sa rapide réponse et pour les effort déployés depuis le début de la crise. (voir photos)

Following the high level mission to Chinegodrar over the weekend (9-11March), UNHCR and IOM went back on 12 March to start registering those refugees who are willing to move to either Ouallam or Abala. Registration is expected to go on until the end of the week. Work at the Ouallam site remains stationary. UNHCR site planner, WASH expert and ACTED have started to develop the Abala site.

The joint assessment mission (OCHA, WFP, UNICEF, Africare and the Nigerien Red Cross) submitted its report on 12 March, with the following conclusions: refugees in the area are not new, although information is new. They come from in Mali (Andrambukane). They have no food and have received NFIs by UNHCR. Water, sanitation, health, nutrition and other services are major assistance gaps.

WASH: MSF(CH) will implement all WASH activities in refugee areas. MSF has set up water bladders in Ayourou, Mangaize, in addition to Chinegodrar and Ouallam. UNHCR will conduct a study of permanent water supply to replace the costly water trucking. MSF will also set up WASH activities in Abala camp.

Health and Nutrition: After the joint field health assessment mission, projects identified for implementation by UNHCR are: the provision of transport and ambulances, rehabilitation/expansion of health centres, construction of staff quarters and procurement of basic equipment, to be activated immediately for the Departments of Tilabery, Ouallam and Fillingue.

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 is continuing in its efforts to lower the barriers to registration in response to concerns that vulnerable Syrians were unable to cover the cost of travelling to Amman. This weekend, UNHCR organised transportation for a number of Syrians residing in Al Mafraq, in the north of Jordan, to BO Amman. In total, 39 cases, representing 110 individuals were registered with the Agency.