It was a rich experience that i gained through interaction with refugees
Pros
you learn the international protection law, UNHCR mandate, and ways of providing assistance to refugees. Also i was lucky to work on the outreach program where i have worked on mobilizing community support within refugee populations. I have also conducted more than 150 focus groups on community level where i have learned the vulnerabilities of the refugee population and how to assess their situation and assist them further in a sustainable manner.
Cons
The accountability does not exist at UNHCR office in Damascus. Supervisors or senior staff often make personal relations of friend ship or social gathering to guarantee their status with the higher management. moreover the senior management consisting of international staff often find ways to twist reports to show the continuous need of refugees in order to guarantee them their jobs in Damascus as they would rather stay in a city with facilities, culture, restaurants and social life than being sent away to a secluded operation.
