The UCLG Middle East Working Group is organising, from 18th - 26th March 2013, a Scoping and Solidarity mission aimed at local and regional authorities welcoming Syrian refugees open to authorities in border countries of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. Elected representatives from French, Turkish and Dutch local and regional authorities will participate in this mission and will be accompanied by experts from local authorities in Canada (FCM), Dutch (VNG) and Cités Unies France (CUF).
During the last UCLG meeting of the Middle-East working group in Dakar, it was decided to send a delegation of local elected officials led by the President of UCLG, to go to meeting mayors and local government leaders from Lebanon, Turkey and Syria. Communities need to manage the influx of refugees from Syria. Their number is estimated at around 700,000.
The objectives of the mission
* Bring a message of solidarity on behalf of the elected from local governments members of UCLG
* Meet with local officials to identify needs of local authorities receiving refugees, particularly those who are not covered by UNRWA and UNHCR in camps.
* Explore the possibilities for a concrete follow up of assistance to the affected local governments.