Peace mission in Syria 17.03.2013

In the neighbouring countries of Syria: Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey

From 18^th to 26^th of March 2013

Faced the dramatic situation in Syria and in response to various calls for solidarity from  mayor of Istanbul and President of UCLG, Kadir Topbas, the Middle East Working Group of UCLG has decided to launch an initiative of local governments from the network world towards Syria.

The assessment of civil war in Syria is high: nearly 40 000 deaths, tens of thousands of people arrested, injured private of care and hundreds of thousands people displaced within the country or refugees in neighboring countries.

The international community has announced a unique humanitarian effort to face this crisis. The delivery of aid is based on the United Nations system and on the major non-governmental humanitarian actors, but also, as requested by the Syrians on local solidarity networks implemented on the country.

During the last UCLG meeting of the Middle-East working group in Dakar, it was decided to send a delegation of local officials led by the President of UCLG, to meet with mayors and local government leaders from Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan. Communities need to manage the influx of refugees from Syria. Their number is estimated at around 700,000.

The objectives of the mission

1.      Bring a message of solidarity on behalf of the elected from local governments members of UCLG

2.     Meet with local officials to identify needs of local authorities receiving refugees, particularly those who are not covered by UNRWA and UNHCR in camps.

Participants

Elected from French, Turkish, Canadian and Dutch local authorities and their national associations will take part on the mission.