1. Winterization Rapid Assessment
Zaatari Camp, August 2016

2. Context & objectives
Zaatari camp currently hosts 79,074 registered Syrian refugees*
Given the modest camp infrastructure, severe winter weather can result in flooding, blocked roads, and shelter damage
To mitigate the harmful impacts of severe weather, UNHCR and camp partners implement a multi-sector Winter Contingency Response Plan between November and February each year
In order to guide winterization assistance and services provided to camp residents, the plan includes an annual Winterization Rapid Assessment
Key objective of the 2016 assessment is to identify priority winter needs for families in the camp across multiple areas:
Cash and non-food item (NFI) assistance distributions
Food access and availability
WASH access
Shelter repair & maintenance needs
*Source: UNHCR Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal, accessed 3 September 2016.

3. Assessment methodology
Data collection took place between August 2016
Implemented by mixed-gender team of nine UNHCR and partner enumerators, led by REACH Field Coordinator
Interviews conducted at the case (i.e. family) level across 388 households selected through random GPS sampling
Findings are statistically representative at the camp level with a 95% level of confidence and 5% margin of error
Certain disaggregated findings are indicative rather than statistically representative (and are noted as such)
Number of enumerators by nominating agency
Agency
Number of enumerators
IRD 2
NRC
UNHCR 1
WFP 4

4. Demographics

5. Family size
25% of respondents reported a family size of eight or more individuals, with a mean family size of five individuals amongst respondents.
25% of respondents reported six or more children (aged 0-17) in their families. Families with children had a mean of three children.
16% of respondents reported that their families did not have any children
Family size
Number of children per family
Families with no children
Of the 16% of respondents who reported no children in their family (i.e. case), 47% also reported that more than one case resided in their household, indicating that children may still be residing in the respondent’s home but do not belong to the respondent’s case.

6. Sex of respondents and HoF
Female respondents comprised a higher proportion of the sample, with 62% female respondents and 38% male.
72% of respondents reported that the head of their family was male, and 28% respondents reported that their head of family was female.
Sex of respondent
Sex of respondents’ head of family
Skewed sex of respondents
In comparison with UNHCR registration figures, which indicate that the overall Zaatari camp population is 50.1% male and 49.9% female, the sample population is skewed towards female respondents. This is likely due to the fact that a higher proportion of females were present in the home during the day time, when data collection occurred, while men were likely not in the home due to gender-based differences in household roles and income-generating responsibilities.

7. 2015 winter residence
The vast majority of respondents (98%) reported that their families were residing in Zaatari camp last winter, between November and February 2015.
This finding indicates that most current Zaatari residents have experienced at least one winter inside the camp and previously received winterization assistance.
Residence in camp during 2015 winter

8. Non-food item (NFI) needs

9. First priority NFI needs
Heaters were the most frequently ranked first priority need (36%) amongst all respondents, followed by gas cylinders (31%) and shelter maintenance assistance (13%).
Of those respondents who cited heaters as their top NFI need, half reported that this is because their family does not have any of the item, followed by 37% reporting that the heater(s) they do have is worn out or of inadequate quality.
NFIs ranked as first priority need for 2016 winter
Reasons for ranking heaters as first priority need*
Gas cylinders
Amongst respondents who cited gas cylinders as their top NFI need, 63% reported that this is because they do not have enough for their entire family, whereas 35% reported they do not have any at all.
This suggests that although these families may already have a heater, they do not have sufficient gas to operate the heaters in relation to the size of their family.
Second and third priority NFI needs
Gas cylinders were the most frequently ranked second priority need (33%) amongst all respondents, followed by heaters (13%) and blankets (11%).
‘Nothing’ was the most frequently ranked third priority need (19%) amongst all respondents, followed by blankets (12%) and plastic sheeting (10%).
This indicates that 19% of respondents have only two priority NFI needs for the coming winter
*Multiple responses could be selected

10. First priority NFI needs by sex
No difference in the order of top priority needs was found between female and male- headed families.
Heaters were the most commonly ranked first priority need for 38% of female headed of families and for 35% of male headed families.
Gas cylinders were more commonly reported as the second priority need by male headed families (34%) than by female headed families (25%).
NFIs ranked as first priority need for 2016 winter, by sex of head of family

11. Heater possession and functionality
The majority of respondents (80%) reported that their families possess at least one heater, whereas 21%* of respondents reported that their family does not currently possess a heater at all.
Of those respondents who reported that their family only has one heater, 53% reported that the heater is not functional.
Number of heaters possessed by assessed families
Reported functionality of heaters for families with only one heater
Comparison with 2015 Winterization Assessment findings
In the 2015 assessment, 51% of respondents reported that their family possessed one heater, indicating that a significantly higher proportion of the camp population currently possesses a heater compared with last year – a 45% increase in heater possession
Relatedly, the proportion of respondents whose families do not possess any heaters has decreased by 56% since last year, from 48% to 21%.
Possession of one heater vs. family size
Although the increase in families who possess a heater between 2015 and 2016 can be regarded as a positive trend, it is important to note that this finding does not necessarily imply a dramatic decrease in a need for heaters amongst families in the camp
Of those respondents who reported that their family has only one heater, 52% have a family size of five or fewer individuals, i.e. below the mean family size, whereas 48% have a family size greater than six individuals, i.e. above the mean family size.
As nearly half of these respondents have an above average family size, these families likely require more than one heater to meet their families’ needs.
*Total over 100% due to rounding.

12. Type of primary heater possessed by family
Heater type
Of those families reporting possession of a heater, nearly all respondents (99%) reported that their family’s primary heater requires a gas cylinder, with 1% of respondents reporting an alternative type.
Amongst respondents who reported that their families possess either two or three heaters (6% of respondents), 92%* reported that their second and/or third heaters require a gas cylinder.
Type of primary heater possessed by family
Families with two or three heaters:
It is important to note that given the small number of respondents who reported that their families possess multiple heaters (24 respondents in total), findings specific to this subset of the population sample are indicative rather than statistically representative of camp level prevalence or trends.
*Findings are indicative rather than statistically representative

13. Gas cylinder possession
Of those respondents who reported that their families’ primary heater is functioning and requires a gas cylinder, the majority (60%) reported that their family currently possesses a gas cylinder, while 40% reported that their family does not.
This finding indicates the need for gas cylinder cash distributions amongst a significant portion of the camp population before the onset of winter
Proportion of families who possess a gas cylinder for their primary, functional gas heater
Families with two or three heaters:
Amongst respondents who reported that their families possess either two or three gas heaters (5.7% of respondents), 45% reported that their family does currently possess a gas cylinder, and 55% reported that their family does not.
However, it is important to note that given the small number of respondents who reported that their families possess multiple gas heaters (22 respondents in total), findings specific to this subset of the population sample are indicative rather than statistically representative of camp level prevalence or trends.

14. Children’s clothing needs

15. Children’s winter clothing needs
Of those respondents with at least one child in the family, the majority perceive their winter clothing to be either inadequate (58%) or very inadequate (12%).
When comparing the perceived adequacy of children’s clothing by the number of children in respondents’ families, there was no clear correlation between perceived inadequacy and higher numbers of children.
Perceived adequacy of children’s winter clothing currently possessed by family
Perceived in adequacy and number of children
This lack of correlation is likely due to the fact that children’s clothing distributions are often provided per child in each family, rather than per family.
Comparison with 2015 Winterization Assessment
In the 2015 assessment, 76% of respondents with children perceived their children’s clothing for winter to be inadequate or very inadequate, with 8% of these respondents considering their clothing to be adequate or very adequate. These findings are quite similar to those in the 2016 assessment, showing only a slight decrease in families who find the clothing inadequate/very inadequate, and a very slight increase in families who find the clothing to be adequate/very adequate in the present assessment.

16. First priority children’s clothing needs
Amongst respondents reporting that children’s clothing in their family was inadequate or very inadequate, Jackets were the most frequently ranked first priority need (42%)
This was followed by Trousers (29%) and shoes (11%).
Clothing items ranked as a first priority need for 2016 winter by families reporting winter clothing to be inadequate/very inadequate
Second and third priority clothing needs
Similarly, jackets were the most frequently ranked second priority need (29%), followed by shoes (27%), and trousers (25%) amongst respondents who perceived the adequacy of children’s clothing possessed by their family to be inadequate or very inadequate.
Shoes were the most frequently ranked third priority need (35%), followed by trousers (17%, and underwear (10%).

17. Shelter needs

18. Shelter type
Nearly all assessed shelters (96%) were identified as caravan structures by enumerators, with only 4% identified as mixed caravan-and-tent structures
Similarly, nearly all respondents (95%) reported that their homes are powered through connection to the Zaatari camp electricity grid, with only 5% indicating an alternative power source.
Shelter type
Primary power source
Determining shelter type
Shelter type of the respondent was assessed through direct observation of the enumerator.
No shelters were identified as solely tent structures, which is in line with UNHCR and Shelter sector partners’ initiative to provide all Zaatari camp residents with transitional rather than relief shelter, i.e. prefabricated caravan structures in lieu of canvas tents.
Comparison with 2015 Winterization Assessment
In the 2015 assessment, 85% of assessed shelters were identified as caravans, 14% as mixed caravan-and-tent structures, and 1% as solely tents.
Zaatari electricity network
In Zaatari camp, households are connected to an electricity grid and provided electricity access for 11 hours each day.
Additionally, a solar power plant is being constructed with the aim of being operational by the end of the year, which will address energy consumption needs of households through a cost efficient and environmentally sustainable solution.

19. Shelter suitability
Overall, 57% of respondents do not consider their family’s shelter to be suitable for the 2016 winter, and 47% do consider the shelter suitable.
Amongst respondents who consider the shelter to be unsuitable, the most frequently cited reason for this unsuitability is a leaking roof (54%).
Respondents’ perceived suitability of family shelter
Reasons for unsuitability*
Comparison with 2015 Winterization Assessment
In the 2015 assessment, 67% of families perceived their family’s shelter to be unsuitable for the coming winter, indicating a 15% increase in perceived suitability of shelters since the 2015 assessment. This increased suitability could potentially be attributed to the increased proportion of respondents identified as living in caravans between the 2015 and 2016 assessments.
*Multiple responses could be selected

20. Capacity to maintain shelters
The majority of respondents (60%) consider their family’s ability to make repairs and conduct shelter maintenance themselves to be weak or very weak.
32% of respondents who reported a female head of family (HoF) perceive their family’s ability to perform repairs as very weak, compared to 17% of respondents who reported a male HoF perceiving their family’s ability as very weak.
Family’s capacity to perform shelter repairs, as perceived by respondent

21. Reasons for low capacity
The most frequently cited reason for why respondents consider their families’ capacity to perform shelter maintenance as weak or very weak is overwhelmingly a lack of financial resources to purchase the materials necessary to make repairs (80%).
This finding indicates a potential need for distributing shelter winterization assistance, either in the form of cash or in-kind distributions of plastic sheeting, metal sheeting, and filler for cracks.
Reasons for weak or very weak family capacity to conduct shelter maintenance
Reasons for low capacity other than financial resources
It is important to note that even if cash or materials are provided to families to perform shelter maintenance, it is unlikely that a significant portion of families can undertake repairs based on the reasons provided – namely the lack of a physically able family member (39%), but also the lack of a family member with the requisite skills or knowledge (20%).
Therefore in addition to providing maintenance assistance, these findings indicate a potential need for engaging cash-for-workers in performing repair & maintenance services on the homes of those unable to do so.
*Multiple responses could be selected

22. Shelter maintenance materials
The most frequently cited material needed by families to conduct shelter maintenance themselves is plastic sheeting, as indicated by 81% of respondents.
Metal sheeting and filler for cracks are the second and third most frequently cited items, at a distant 48% and 37%, respectively.
These findings are in line with the primary reason respondents considered their families’ shelters to be unsuitable: leaking roofs.
Most frequently cited materials needed by families to conduct shelter maintenance themselves*
*Multiple responses could be selected

23. Food access & availability

24. 2015 winter cash assistance
Purchasing winter NFIs was the most frequently cited use of the 2015 winter cash assistance distributed to all families in Zaatari camp (45%), amongst respondents who reported that their families were in Zaatari camp last winter.
Reported uses of 2015 winter cash assistance distribution*
Gas cylinder purchase vs. gas cylinder refill
Respondents indicated a difference between purchasing a new gas cylinder and paying to refill an empty cylinder that their family already possessed. This distinction is important, as refilling cylinders is significantly less expensive than purchasing a brand new full cylinder. Therefore families can acquire more gas to heat their homes with cash distributions for the purpose of purchasing gas if they are refilling rather than purchasing new cylinders.
*Multiple responses could be selected.
**Respondents indicated that their family did not receive 2015 winter cash assistance because they were registered with UNHCR outside of the camp.

25. Food items purchased with assistance
Amongst respondents who reported that their families used last year’s assistance to purchase food, the majority (64%) ranked vegetables as the primary food group purchased, followed by meat/eggs (14%), and dairy products (6%).
When looking at the first, second, and third ranked food groups that were purchased together, vegetables remained the most frequently cited group (83%), followed by meat/eggs (22%), and dairy products and sweets (both 17%).*
Primary food group purchased with 2015 winter cash assistance**
Significance of findings
The 17% of respondents who reported using 2015 winter cash assistance to purchase food amounts to 64 respondents, which is below the minimum threshold number of respondents needed for statistically representative findings. Therefore, any assessment findings specific to this subset of the population sample are indicative rather than representative of camp level prevalence or trends.
Second and third ranked food groups
While no respondents ranked the purchase of sweets, sugar, sugar products, or honey as their primary food group purchased, this food group was in the top three when the rankings were aggregated. This potentially indicates that sugar and sugar products were purchased only after the primary food need was met.
*As these findings represent an aggregation of the top three ranked food groups, proportions add up to over 100%
**Findings are indicative rather than statistically representative

26. Food markets accessed with assistance
Amongst 17% of respondents who reported that their families used the winter cash assistance to purchase food, 91% reported shopping at informal “Market Street” shops and vendors, with only 20% and 6% shopping in formal super markets Tazweed and Safeway, respectively.
Most frequently cited food markets at which winter cash assistance was used*
Significance of findings
The 17% of respondents who reported using 2015 winter cash assistance to purchase food amounts to 64 respondents, which is below the minimum threshold number of respondents needed for statistically representative findings. Therefore, any assessment findings specific to this subset of the population sample are indicative rather than representative of camp level prevalence or trends.
*Findings are indicative rather than statistically representative

27. Severe weather & availability of food
The majority of all respondents (73%) reported that all food items were available for purchase last winter during severe weather, whereas 24% reported key food items were unavailable.
This finding indicates that for a majority of camp residents availability of food is not dramatically restricted due to severe winter weather.
Amongst the 24% who reported certain items were unavailable, main staples such as rice, bread, cereals, and tubers were the most frequently cited unavailable food group (43%) followed by meat/eggs (36%) and vegetables (36%).
Availability of food items during severe winter weather
Food Group
% Cited as unavailable*
Main staples
43%
Meat/eggs
36%
Vegetables
Dairy products
29%
Pulses
23%
Fruits
Oils, fats, butter
22%
Sweets, sugar, honey
21%
Condiments, tea/coffee 9%
Access to markets
52% of respondents reported that their families’ access to food was not restricted due to severe weather, whereas 29% reported restricted access to both markets and food distribution centres; 10% reported access to food markets only; 8% reported restricted access to distribution centres only; and 2% reported ‘do not know.’
*Multiple responses could be selected

28. WASH needs

29. Access to WASH facilities
The majority of respondents (57%) reported that their families did not experience any restricted access to WASH facilities due to severe weather last winter, with only 21% reporting either greatly restricted access or complete inaccessibility.
This finding is in line with the high proportion of shelters that contained private WASH facilities last winter, thereby having direct access despite severe weather.
Extent of restricted access to WASH due to severe weather*
WASH facilities and services
According to the 2015 Population Count conducted by UNICEF and REACH, 91% of households in the camp possessed a private toilet at the time of data collection (December 2015). The high prevalence of private WASH infrastructure during the 2015 winter may explain the comparatively low incidence of greatly restricted/complete lack of WASH facility access due to severe weather, as camp residents did not have to travel outside of the home to utilize such facilities.
Additionally, WASH sector partners provide emergency desludging and other WASH services each winter, as part of the Winter Contingency Response Plan. These findings indicate that these services could be contributing to the relatively low levels of inaccessibility and should therefore be maintained in forthcoming winters.
Data limitations
As this was a rapid assessment, a short data collection period (one week) was central to the assessment methodology. However, rapid data collection requirements allowed for a sample size that is representative at the camp level only, rather than at the district level. As such, district level differences in access to WASH services that are statistically representative are unavailable from the assessment data.
*Of those respondents who reported their families were in the camp last winter

30. Wastewater overflow
45% of respondents reported that their family’s wastewater system overflowed last winter due to severe weather, and 55% reported that their family did not experience wastewater overflow.
This finding is in line with the high proportion of shelters that contained private WASH facilities last winter but were not connected to a wastewater disposal network, thereby increasing susceptibility to septic tank flooding.
Proportion of families who experience wastewater system overflow*
These findings indicate that completion of the Zaatari Waste Water Network and private toilet upgrading initiatives are key for ensuring lower levels of septic tank flooding in forthcoming winters, and the completion of these programmes before the onset of winter is an important target.
*Of those respondents who reported their families were in the camp last winter

31. Overall preparedness for 2016 winter
Amongst all respondents, the most frequently cited response was ‘somewhat prepared’ (44%)
43% consider their family to be unprepared or very unprepared, whilst only 13% consider their family to be prepared or very prepared.
Family’s overall preparedness for 2016 winter, as perceived by respondent

32. Conclusions and recommendations
Primary NFI needs: Heaters (36%) and gas cylinders (31%) are the most frequently reported first priority NFI needs for families in the camp.
Heater possession and functionality: The proportion of families in the camp who possess one heater has increased since the 2015 assessment, with 80% of respondents in the present assessment reporting that their family has at least one heater. However, of respondents whose families possess one heater, more than half (53%) reported the heater is not functioning.
Gas cylinder possession: The vast majority of families possess gas heaters as their primary heater (99%), and a significant portion currently do not possess a gas cylinder to operate it (44%).
Children’s clothing: The majority of families with children consider their children’s current winter clothing to be inadequate or very inadequate (70%), citing jackets, trousers, and shoes as priority needs (42%, 29%, and 11%).
Recommendations
Assessment findings indicate:
Continuing need for functional heaters amongst a significant portion of families in the camp, particularly families that are larger in size
A need for cash distributions for the purpose of purchasing gas/gas cylinders to ensure families in the camp have the means to purchase and/or refill gas cylinders in order to effectively operate their heater all winter
Although self-reporting on adequacy may bias these findings to a certain extent, the findings indicate a need for distributing key winter clothing items, namely jackets, trousers, and shoes, to families with children.
According to KI interviews conducted in the 2015 assessment, children under 24 months, school-aged children who walk to school each day, and children who walk to collect assistance for their families from distribution centres, are in particular need of suitable winter clothing.

33. Conclusions and recommendations
Shelter suitability: The majority of families perceived their shelters unsuitable for winter (57%) primarily due to a leaking roof (54%).
Capacity for repairs: Most families perceive their capacity to perform shelter repairs themselves as weak or very weak (60%), primarily due to a lack of financial resources to purchase the necessary materials (80%).
Food availability and access: Most families did not find any key food items to be unavailable last winter due to severe weather (73%), and the majority (52%) of families did not find access to markets or distribution centres restricted.
WASH needs: Only 21% of families faced greatly restricted or complete lack of access to WASH facilities due to severe weather last winter, likely due to the fact that most households contained a private toilet. However, that 45% of families experienced an overflow of their wastewater systems due to severe weather indicates that many private toilets lack sufficient wastewater disposal capacity.
Overall preparedness: Only 13% of families feel prepared or very prepared for the winter, compared with 43% who feel unprepared or very unprepared.
Recommendations:
Assessment findings indicate:
A need to distribute cash assistance for the purposes of winterizing the home, so that families can purchase plastic sheeting, metal sheeting, and filler to address leaks and cracks in their roofs, windows, and floors.
The completion of the Zaatari Waste Water Network and planned toilet upgrades before the onset of the 2016 winter will be central to alleviating WASH access and wastewater overflow challenges for many families in the camp.
Following winter assistance distributions anticipated to take place in October 2016, families will likely consider their level of preparedness to be higher. A follow up assessment of preparedness conducted after these distributions will be key for measuring changes in perceptions of preparedness amongst families between the pre and post distribution periods.