Syria, UNICEF sign master plan of cooperation for 2002- 2006
Syria, Culture, 4/15/2002

A celebration was held on April 10, at the Syrian state planning Commission, during which the master of plan operations as from January 2002 through December 2006 was cosigned by the head of Stare for planning Affairs Toufik Ismail and UNICEF's representative in Damascus Mohamad Bendriss Alami.

In a speech he delivered following the signing ceremony Alami said that it is a good opportunity that the two sides are meeting to place a new stone in the foundation of the great works carried out in Syria in collaboration between Syrian sides concerned and the UNICEF. He said that the program on the plan of operations is but a result and the very fruit of the collective efforts exerted during the two past years to meet Syria's basic requirements regarding children issues so as to alleviate new challenges.

In a similar statement, Dr. Ismail said that Syria has been working with UNICEF since several decades, noting that this program which covers the years 2002-2006 was prepared at a very close co-operation between Syrian organizations concerned and UNICEF. He explained that undertaking issues on child- care is a noble and sublime mission and for both Syria and UNICEF the challenges are on top priorities.

In a statement to Arabic news UNICEF's Program Coordinator Mr. Narinder Sharma said this even is the signing of UNICEF co-operation with the Syrian Arab republic to implement activities during 2002- 2006. He explained that it is the main plan depicting the situation of children and women in Syria and what actions we have taken to improve the conditions and opportunities for welfare of children in the consultation and co-operation with various ministries in Syria.

He added that within the major plan, the Palestinian refugees in Syria, children and women's problems will be also addressed.

He said that the program mainly deals with three main areas, with the fist on a disparity reduction in five Syrian governorates in comparison to the entire country. These governorates are Aleppo, Idleb, Raqqa, Hassaka and Deir ezz Zour ). He emphasized that healthy villages projects, early child care and development projects will be the main stress.

He outlined that the second area of interest is support to national policy and development. He indicated that the emphasis will be on Global education, girls education, community school, immunization, IMCI ( Integrated Management of Childhood Illness ), nutrition and HIV. He continued that the third area is children and women rights which are the most dynamic program to address rights of children in all stages starting from survival, development, protection and participation, Juvenile children of divorced parents; children in conflict of the law, children in special needs ( children labor, street children ) are some of the issues affecting children apart from their basic development needs like education, health and psycho- social development.

Highlighting the growing co-operation relations between Syria and UNICEF Mr. Sharma said that the previous five year plan, 1996- 2000 was successfully implemented with the great co-operation from the government of Syria's various ministries of health, education,information, and justice, and the people's organizations like ( the Revolution;s Youth Union ( RYU), the General federation of Peasants ( GFP) and for the Palestinian Children (CAPAR) " The General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees " has provided a valuable support to address the issue of Palestinian Children.

He concluded as saying that President Bashar al-Assad new policies and the current needs of children have been driving force to draft this plan of co-operation.

Worthy mentioning that the Master Plan of Operations shall supersede any previously signed Master Plan of Operations and become effective upon signature, but will be understood to cover programme activities to be implemented during the period from January 2002 through December 2006 and it might be modified by mutual consent of the Government and UNICEF, based on the outcome of the annual reviews, the Mid-Term Review or compelling circumstances.

Previous Stories:
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