solutions within existing migration frameworks. By engaging with refugee communities, the Office facilitated awareness raising activities in order to help persons of concern make informed decisions about the risks of onward movement and their options, including voluntary return and access to protection services. The number of refugees and migrants using the Eastern Mediterranean route in 2016 has dropped dramatically after the effective closure of the “Balkans route” and as a result of the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March. Between May and July 2016, over 90% of sea arrivals had arrived by the Central Mediterranean route, though the number of arrivals to Italy remains consistent with those of 2015. An important route ran through North Africa, with departures by sea primarily from Libya or by land through Morocco towards the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Between January and September 2016, a total of 284,500 refugees and migrants arrived by sea to Europe, of which 33 per cent were Syrian. Despite the ongoing armed conflict and the volatile security situation in Yemen, irregular arrivals by sea continued, followed by onward movement by land. B. Progress and challenges in achieving the global strategic priorities Creating a favourable protection environment In line with its efforts to promote the development of national asylum legislation, UNHCR contributed to the draft Arab Convention on regularizing the refugee situation in the Arab region. Progress was made, in Morocco and Tunisia, on draft laws on asylum, which are expected to be submitted to the respective Parliaments shortly. Throughout the region, UNHCR supported the training of lawyers and judges in asylum matters. In Jordan, for example, the courts instituted evidentiary rules to facilitate the access of refugees to justice and civil documentation. In Israel, UNHCR continued to promote solutions, as well as access to legal status and the rights associated with asylum. UNHCR continued to conduct individual biometric registration for persons in need of international protection throughout the region. In Turkey, UNHCR supported the government to develop a project to verify the registration data of Syrian refugees. The Office conducted refugee status determination under its mandate, while also implementing activities designed to safeguard the integrity, quality and efficiency of the process. In close collaboration with partners, UNHCR continued to invest in the capacity of refugees and communities as agents of protection. In Lebanon, for example, community volunteers ensured access to services and assistance for some 860,000 refugees and members of the host community between January 2015 and June 2016. Community-based interventions were carried out in most operations, with community outreach volunteers playing a critical role in countries with a predominantly urban refugee population such as Israel and Morocco. A multi-sectoral strategy was launched in the region to support the “Global action plan to end statelessness”. In February 2016, UNHCR supported a regional dialogue on realizing women’s nationality rights in Bahrain with the active participation of the Government of Bahrain, along with civil society experts from Egypt, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. UNHCR has prioritized birth registration as a key tool to ensure that all children born to persons of concern to the Office receive evidence of their legal identity and nationality status, with particular attention to prevent statelessness among Syrian children. UNHCR continues its démarches with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf governments aiming to ensure that Syrians residing in these States are protected against refoulement and have access to basic services. In Saudi Arabia, some Syrians and Yemenis were issued with visas and work permits, regularizing their stay in the country. Qatar exempted Syrians remaining on a visit visa from the monthly renewal fees and granted an exceptional extension of all visas for Syrians. 3