VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHDM #0651 1791414
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281414Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3776
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0485
RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN 6917
UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000651
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PRM/ANE, AMMAN FOR REFCOORD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF SY
SUBJECT: SYRIA PROPOSAL FOR 2007 AMBASSADOR FUND FOR
REFUGEES
1. (U) Request: Post requests $20,000 from the Ambassador
Fund for Refugees for the NGO LIFE for Relief and Development
for a 10-day summer camp in August 2007 that would benefit 80
Iraqi and 20 Syrian children from eight to 12 years old.
2. (U) Background and justification: LIFE for Relief and
Development was founded in 1992 by Iraqi Americans. Its
Syria office is registered with the Syrian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs/International Organizations and Conferences
Department, according to organization literature. LIFE
coordinates relief and development projects in Syria with the
Syrian Arab Red Crescent and is expected to become an
implementing partner for a PRM-funded CARE project in Syria.
There are very few functional NGOs on the ground in Syria;
LIFE was the only organization that provided Ambassador Fund
proposals on a tight deadline. Objectives for this project
include:
-- Provide creative and recreational activities for
vulnerable Iraqi children;
-- Help them integrate into the host community;
-- Raise hygiene awareness;
-- Teach them handicrafts;
-- Provide good nutrition via two daily meals during the camp
and distribute non-food items.
Of the more than 1 million Iraqis who have fled the Iraqi
conflict to Syria, almost 300,000 are believed to be
school-age children, according to UNICEF. Most are not in
school and most live in cramped urban areas with little
recreational space. This project would reach only a small
number of Iraqi children but would be part of efforts by
other NGOs and would encourage further such activities. LIFE
would also include poor Syrian children as part of its
efforts to integrate Iraqis into the host society.
Additionally, the inclusion of Syrian children would give
this project a better chance of not being blocked by Syrian
authorities. Cost per child per day for the Ambassador Fund
would be USD 20.
3. (U) Estimated budget:
ITEM Value $
Personnel 6,500
Transportation/Outings 3,900
Rent 2,000
Food 6,538
Media/brochures/invites 3,548
and stationery
Items for distribution 4,187
TOTAL 26,673
Ambassador's Fund 20,000
LIFE Participation 6,673
4. (U) Implementation: Emboffs will monitor the program in
coordination with the regional refugee coordinator.
5. (U) Post has the authority and procedures in place to
transfer these funds to Life.
CORBIN