VZCZCXRO9748
OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHAM #2636 2541347
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 101347Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3498
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0677

UNCLAS AMMAN 002636 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Department for NEA/ELA and PRM/ANE 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREF EAID JO
SUBJECT: IMC Syria Satisfied with Programming but Troubled 
by Bureaucracy 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: On September 4, 2008, RefCoord Frederick 
and Project Management Specialist Halasa met with 
International Medical Corps (IMC) Syria Director Hussein 
Ibrahim in Amman.  Ibrahim said he was satisfied with the 
progress of IMC programming in Syria.  Clinics are 
operational and receiving patients according to plan.  Both 
IMC outreach efforts and Ibrahim's residence permit are in 
the hands of the Syrian Security Service.  End summary. 
 
Programs on Track and on Schedule 
------- ------------- ----------- 
¶2.  (SBU) Ibrahim said that IMC had three operational 
clinics, in Saida Zeinab, Barzeh, and Jeramana, in 
partnership with Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).  The 
clinics provide a full range of primary health care 
services to all comers; however, Iraqi refugees make up the 
majority of their clients.  The clinics were located near 
urban refugees, but IMC has noted that Iraqis are leaving 
areas like Saida Zeinab as real estate becomes more 
expensive.  Ibrahim said the NGO community did not have a 
good idea of where these refugees are relocating. 
 
¶3.  (U) The Saida Zeinab site is close to other health care 
providers, but the IMC facility is the only one with a 
dental clinic.  At IMC facilities beneficiaries pay 20 
Syrian Pounds (SYP) for simple consultations (Note: USD 
1=46 SYP).  Patients pay additional fees for lab services 
and prescriptions.  Clients with chronic diseases only pay 
15 SYP for their drugs.  At other facilities serving 
Iraqis, only registered refugees benefit from reduced 
prices.  In Ministry of Health facilities without UNHCR 
support, all patients pay the same GOS rate of 125 SYP per 
consultation. 
 
¶4.  (U) In 2008, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Syria 
approached IMC to sign a memorandum of understanding 
allowing CRS to refer Iraqis from their PRM-funded project 
to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC)/IMC jointly 
administered clinics.  Ibrahim explained that IMC accepted 
patients without referral from any institution in Syria. 
The CRS agreement would service as a means to monitor where 
Iraqis are seeking assistance and in what numbers. 
 
Future Programming to target Psychosocial needs 
----------------- ------------------- --------- 
¶5.  (U) In 2009, IMC planned to include more Psychosocial 
programming in the health centers they support, including 
some sexual and gender-based violence programs.  In 
preparation for that programming, IMC planned to add an 
Arabic-speaking psychiatrist to its professional staff. 
They have had problems finding qualified applicants in 
Syria, and so planned to expand the search to the wider 
MENA region. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) IMC also participated in monthly coordination 
meetings of PRM-funded projects in Syria, as well as 
psychosocial coordination meetings chaired by SARC and 
health coordination meetings, temporarily chaired by WHO 
(UNHCR would normally chair the meetings, but has no 
medical coordinator).  Ibrahim said the SARC staff was 
competent and helpful participants in coordination. 
 
Syrian Bureaucracy Blocks Outreach and Visas 
---------- --------------------- ----------- 
¶7. (SBU) Ibrahim said that he had cancelled all external 
outreach programs in Syria until further notice as a result 
of State Security interference with IMC workers in the 
field.  According to Ibrahim, security officers stopped IMC 
workers during an outreach campaign in August 2008.  When 
Ibrahim approached the SARC for clarification, his contacts 
refused to become involved in a "security" matter.  The 
unwritten injunction against outreach affected other NGOs 
as well; The SARC denied the Danish Refugee Council 
permission to run an out reach program as well.  Note: IMC 
has continued distribution of information within their 
supported health clinics.  End note. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Ibrahim did not seem concerned about the GOS 
recent denial of his application for a resident permit. 
IMC has appealed the decision to State Security, and, 
according to Ibrahim, as long as State Security does not 
issue a letter to immigration denying the permit, he could 
continue to live and work in Syria. 
 
Visit AmmanQs Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
 
BEECROFT