Sept 7 (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has issued a rare report on Syria, calling on the government to intensify its response to a severe drought and stop discrimination against the Arab country's Kurd minority.
Here are key points of the report.
IRAQI REFUGEES
- Syria receives high marks for opening its public services and education system to Iraqi refugees, of whom 150,000 are registered with the United Nations.
- The refugees, however, are not allowed to work in Syria, which drives them to the underground economy at below minimum wage salaries and exposes them to employer abuse.
- Allowing the refugees access to the formal economy would "reduce the risk" of Iraqis competing with Syrian workers because they would then be given equal pay.
RIGHT TO FOOD
- Syria has a food subsidies programme supplying 10-15 percent of food demand. In theory the system is open to all Syrians, but many families cannot register if they have a male member who did not comply with mandatory military service.
- Programme should be extended to cover lentils, chickpeas, eggs and more fruits, vegetables and dairy products for children and pregnant women. If funds are lacking, the United Nations suggests that the programme could be limited to those falling below a defined poverty line.
DROUGHT IN EASTERN SYRIA
- School enrolment in northeastern Syria fell by 80 percent as a result of internal displacement driven by the drought.
- Government is focusing on schemes to make irrigation more efficient but also on big projects that could further deplete groundwater. More help is needed for vulnerable small farmers, who could benefit from low-tech but sustainable solutions, such as rainwater gathering techniques.
GOLAN HEIGHTS
- Territory held by Israel since 1967 is still home to 20,000 Syrians.
- Israeli settlers farm 80 square km (31 square miles) compared with 20 square km farmed by Syrians, although the two groups are comparable in size.
- The Special Rapporteur suspects "gross disparities" between the water usage allotted to the Israeli settlers and the Syrian inhabitants.
(For a story on Syrian treatment of the Kurdish minority, click on [ID:nLDE68619Y])
(Writing by Khaled Yacoub Oweis; Editing by Peter Graff)
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