Methodology. Andalus. Hurriyeh. Ad Dari'yeh. Wihdeh Tawoosuiyeh. Nahda. Fardous. Tas-heeh. Ethekana. Al Baasil. Benurama. Bain al Jisreen / Furat

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1 Situation Overview: Ar-Raqqa City Infrastructure and Basic Services February 2018 Introduction Following the cessation of conflict and evacuation of civilians from Ar-Raqqa city in October 2017, REACH has conducted a series of assessments to monitor the humanitarian situation as returns occur and services begin to resume. This situation overview, which follows two spontaneous returns assessments (December 2017, January 2018), examines key services and infrastructure across the city. The assessment seeks to provide humanitarian actors with information on location, status, and capacity of facilities, as well as the barriers to increasing service levels to support the returning population. The findings are supplemented by a neighbourhood-level damage analysis atlas, and will also feed into an overall city profile following the completion of an upcoming needs assessment. Methodology REACH conducted qualitative data collection for the services and infrastructure assessment between 4 and 8 February A total of 47 key informants (KIs) were interviewed based on their expertise in one of six sectors: food, markets and cash; electricity and power; bakeries; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); healthcare; and education. KI interviews featured a series of open and closed format questions as well as participatory mapping exercises in which information was collected about services, infrastructure and facilities at the neighbourhood level. A further 22 KI interviews were conducted for the returns assessment on 13 February Findings should be considered as indicative only. Population and returns KIs estimated that there are now between 25,000 and 27,000 households living in the city. It should be noted that population figures are difficult to verify due to ongoing movement around the city and limited direct access to certain areas. The areas with the highest levels of returns are Ma amoun and (Meshlab), Al- Thawrah (Qaraba) and / (Rmelah). These were the first areas that civilians returned to and are located along some of the primary access routes into the city. The lowest levels of returns have reportedly been in the central and northern area of the city, which featured the highest levels of damage following the conflict (see Map 2). The only area to remain uninhabited is (Fardous/Ethekana/ Rasheed), although there are reportedly a large number of visitors to the area each day. KIs reported that mine and unexploded ordnance contamination is widespread and remains a major protection issue. Roadblocks, broken or damaged roads continue to restrict movement throughout the city, particularly for larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. Map 1: Ar-Raqqa city returns, as of 13 February ² TURKEY Rumaniyeh I R A Q Dari'yeh Tay'yar Benurama Tawoosuiyeh Al Baasil Fardous Bain al Jisreen / Key'tar Harrit Al Beydo Ethekana Qaraba Rasheed Number of returns by data collection unit (households) 0 1-1,000 1,001-3,000 3,001-6,000 Muthana Old Raqqa Rmelah Magaf Sinaa OCHA neighbourhood boundaries 1. Data Collection Units were delineated through participatory mapping with KIs, in order to define the area within which they could most easily report population information. Meshlab Kms Labels OCHA neighbourhood Data collection unit name

2 Map 2: Satellite-detected infrastructure damage density by neighbourhood2 Al Thawrah Tas heeh High Damage Density 2. Source: Using satellite imagery acquired 21 October 2017, 03 February 2017, 29 May 2015, 12 February 2014, 22 October 2013, UNITAR - UNOSAT. 2 Low Damage Density

3 Food and cash KIs reported that across the city, markets are functioning primarily in the form of small shops and stands selling basic goods. The majority of assessed core food items 3 are reportedly available in markets in 13 neighbourhoods (typically those which have featured the highest numbers of returns), while no core food items are available in markets in five neighbourhoods. KIs reported that the main barriers to markets functioning are damage to buildings and limited availability of electricity. In central and western areas of the city, rubble and unexploded ordnance also reportedly represent a primary challenge. Hawala systems 4 are reportedly functioning in eight neighbourhoods. KIs reported the main barriers to hawala systems functioning are physical damage to the buildings in which hawala agents operate and network challenges due to communication and connection issues. Map 3: Reported availability of core food items and hawala services Table 1: Median price of core food items, Ar-Raqqa city and Ar-Raqqa governorate 5 Food item Ar-Raqqa city (SYP) 6 Ar-Raqqa governorate (SYP) 6 Bread (1 pack / 8 pieces) Flour (1 kg) Rice (1 kg) Lentils (1 kg) Sugar (1 kg) Cooking oil (1 litre) Chicken (1 kg) Tomatoes (1 kg) Onions (1 kg) Number of core food items available in markets None Neighbourhood with functioning hawala system 3 3. Assessed core food items: bread, flour, rice, lentils, sugar, cooking oil, chicken, meat, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions. 4. Hawala is a traditional system of transferring money whereby money is paid to an agent who then instructs an associate in the relevant country or area to pay the final recipient. 5. REACH, Syria Market Monitoring Exercise, January UN Operational Rates of Exchange as of 1 February 2018: 1 USD = 434 Syrian Pounds (SYP).

4 Bakeries There are reportedly 22 functioning bakeries in the city, primarily located in the more populated neighbourhoods on the eastern side of the city. The majority of the functioning bakeries are located on sites that were previously used as bakeries, although multiple new bakeries were identified too. KIs reported that the volume of flour allocated to each bakery is determined by the local authorities and is calculated according to the estimated population of each bakery s local area. Overall, KIs reported that bakeries in the city are being allocated between 58,000 kg and 77,000 kg of flour per day. Several bakeries (in,,, and Abd Malek) reportedly have the capacity to increase bread production, but are limited by the supply of flour received. Map 4: Reported location and operational status of bakeries Availability of electricity and fuel is reportedly the primary barrier to bakeries increasing bread production volumes, while repairs and maintenance of both the building and machinery are also needed. KIs noted that some of the required machinery parts are not available in local markets. Figure 1: Top five reported barriers to increasing output levels at functioning bakeries 7 Electricity/fuel is too expensive/ hard to access Bakery is in need of repairs Machinery needs maintenance Flour is too expensive/hard to access Yeast is too expensive/hard to access KIs could select more than one option. Bakery status Functioning Non-functioning Destroyed Daily flour allocation!!! 2,000 kg 4,000 kg 5,000 kg

5 Non-food items Overall, markets are reportedly functioning in western and eastern areas of the city with reasonable availability of NFIs. Elsewhere NFIs are limited and residents must travel to the outer neighbourhoods to purchase goods. KIs reported that all or nearly all core NFIs 8 were available in eight of the 23 neighbourhoods, predominantly those in the outer areas of the city. In the central and northern neighbourhoods, where markets are not yet functioning, Kis reported that very few or no NFIs are currently available. In the central negihbourhoods of,, and, the only available NFIs are cleaning products and personal hygiene items. KIs reported that these items, in addition to heating fuel and cooking fuel, were the most widely available in the city. Electricity There is reportedly no access to electricity from the main network in any neighbourhood of the city due to damage at the Euphrates Dam, the main power source located to the west of the city. KIs also reported widespread issues with transformers, cable networks and pylons across the city, which were either directly damaged by the conflict, have had important components removed or sabotaged, or are missing entirely. Power is reportedly accessible through private and community generators, although the supply of electricity remains extremely limited; for all other infrastructure types, insufficient access to power was noted as a barrier to increasing services. Map 5: Reported availability of core NFIs Number of core NFIs available in markets None Assessed core NFIs: Bedding items, mattresses/sleeping mats, cooking utensils, cooking fuel, water containers, torches, solar lamps, solar panels, clothing, shoes, batteries, winter heaters, heating fuel, winter clothes, winter shoes, winter blankets, disposable diapers, sanitary pads, soap, washing powder, cleaning liquid (for the house), detergent for dishes, baby diapers, adult diapers.

6 WASH The main water treatment and pumping station, located to the south of the city across the Euphrates River, is reportedly undergoing repairs and capacity tests. KIs reported that it is powered by a dedicated generator but there are difficulties securing a consistent fuel supply. KIs were able to indicate potential areas of the main pipe network that are in need of repair, but as water is not yet being pumped through the majority of the network, this is not possible in all areas of the city. Unexploded ordnance and rubble pose further barriers to testing pipe networks. Residents of Ma amoun neighbourhood (Meshlab) are reportedly accessing water from the main network, but this is for less than two hours per day. Elsewhere, KIs reported that civilians water is being provided by water trucking services by local authorities. The sewage network is reportedly relatively undamaged following the conflict because it mostly lies underground. KIs estimated that only 5% to 10% of the sewage network is in need of repairs, but there is a lack of water to run due to problems with water infrastructure. Map 6: Reported location and operational status of primary WASH infrastructure 9 Pumping station (partially functioning) Water tower (destroyed) Primary water network (partially functioning) Bladder tanks Destroyed Functioning 6 9. Source of primary water network data: UN Habitat, Raqqa City Profile Update, December 2016.

7 Health Although health facilities have reportedly started to function in seven neighbourhoods, services are very limited due to a lack of power, a lack of staff and a lack of medical equipment. KIs reported that there are functioning health facilities (informal emergency care points, primary care facilities or private clinics) located in the southeastern neighbourhoods and in the west. KIs reported that there are no functioning hospitals in the city, although the hospital located in neighbourhood is reportedly scheduled to start functioning in the next few weeks. The majority of functioning facilities are private clinics (22), while there are also pharmacies in 10 neighbourhoods (although medicine supplies remain extremely limited). The main services provided by facilities are skilled care during childbirth and emergency care for accidents and injuries. There are also clinics providing some child immunisation (4), dental treatment (6), diarrhoea management (2), and support for infant breastfeeding and complementary feeding (2). The main barriers faced by functioning health facilities to increasing service levels are reported a lack of power and damage to the buildings. KIs reported that whole sections of the facility were unused for these reasons. For non-functioning health facilities, a primary barrier to providing services is reportedly a lack of medical personnel, particularly nurses, midwives, anesthetists, and doctors. A further barrier is reportedly a lack of medical items/equipment, such as blood transfusion bags, assistive devices, and surgical equipment. Map 7: Reported location and operational status of health infrastructure Hospital Informal emergency care point Primary care facility Private clinic Functioning Non-functioning Presence of functioning health facilities in neighbourhood Pharmacies and other medical facilities Pharmacies only Destroyed No functioning health facilities 7

8 Education The availability of educations services is reportedly extremely limited in the city. KIs reported that a large number of schools in the city were destroyed during the conflict, as they were often used as armed group bases or meeting places and were therefore often targeted. KIs reported that education is being provided at just eight locations in the city: four schools in Ma amoun, two informal facilities in, and one formal and one informal facility in. Education services have been relocated to informal facilities (houses) in and because the nearby schools are reportedly destroyed. The total number of children receiving education services in the city is reportedly between 5,550 and 7,200, and they are being taught by between 95 and 140 teachers. KIs reported the ratio of students to teachers is highest in the education facilities (around 60 students per teacher), whereas there are approximately 40 students per teacher elsewhere (except one school in Ma amoun which has around 70 students per teacher). KIs reported that the main barriers to increasing education services are a lack of teaching staff (partically due to the lack of salaries to pay staff), a lack of administrative and support staff, a lack of school supplies, and the limited availability of electricity. KIs noted, however, that the power shortages have less of an impact on the level of services provided than staff or equipment shortages. Map 8: Reported location and operational status of education facilities School status Number of students Functioning (formal) Functioning (informal) Non-functioning Destroyed No data! 600! 800! 1,500 8