Arrival at
Damascus/Aleppo Airports
On arrival, all visitors will be met by an ICARDA representative who will
facilitate all the airport formalities, provided that their details to Syria
are received at ICARDA in advance.
ICARDA will provide transportation for all visitors from
the airports to the hotels in Damascus and Aleppo and from Damascus to Aleppo
(a car ride of approximately 3.5-4.0 hours).
Daily Transportation
ICARDA will provide bus transportation to the participants from their hotels
in Aleppo to its headquarters in Tel-Hadya. Special needs for other daily
transportation between Aleppo and Tel-Hadya will also be attended to by ICARDA
upon request.
Spouse Program
A special program of excursion, shopping and other activities will be organized
by the ICARDA Spouses Groups (ISG) for the accompanying spouses. The transportation
for this will also be provided by ICARDA.
Currency Exchange
Syrian currency (US$ 1 = Syrian Lira 51.50 Appr.) can be obtained at the Syrian
banks and their branches in major hotels. Foreign and Arab nationals can bring
into and take out of Syria foreign currency not exceeding US$ 5000 in its
exchange value. Amount brought in excess of this limit should be declared
on arrival, if it is intended to re-export that at the end of the visitors'
stay.
If You Have Spare Time
You are welcome to visit the ICARDA Sports & Social Club located at
Office 1 in Aleppo City, where tennis, basketball, volleyball, football, squash,
ping pong, billiard, social room, 500 meters walking track and other facilities
are available. The club is about 15 minutes walk from Chahba Cham Hotel and
is open daily from 09:00 am - 10:00 pm.
What to Wear: The Weather
Summer (mid June to mid September) is the warmest season of the year in Syria.
However, the weather can be cold at night; therefore, one should be prepared.
An umbrella, a jacket, and an assortment of warm and light clothes ensure
that what may come, one is ready to defy the uncertainty of weather. Temperatures
in July could range from 15°C at night to 45°C during the daytime.
For a field visit, field shoes and windcheater would be highly recommended.
Medical Facilities
ICARDA has a fully equipped outpatient clinic, which is staffed by a full
time physician and a medical consultant. However, visitors are advised to
bring an adequate supply of personal medications they are currently using.
Communications
For communication around the world, telephone, e-mail and fax facilities will
be available. ICARDA has a network of Microsoft Windows based computers. Participants
can have access to our common facilities such as the Internet from the designated
PCs, printers, scanner, CD writer etc. They can connect their notebooks through
a dial-up telephone line at Tel Hadya (we use RJ11 male connector for our
telephone). We also have facility to directly connect to the Internet via
our LAN. GSM phones registered outside Syria will not work here.
Please note that our electric power supply is 220 volts
and the plugs for computer connections are of American type.
ICARDA Contact Person in Aleppo, Syria
Dr Samir Ahmed, Head, Human Resources Development Unit
| Tel Office: |
00963-21-2213433/2213477 |
| Residence: |
00963-21-2682257 |
| Mobile: |
00963-94-517 667 |
| Fax: |
00963-21-2213490 |
|
|
ICARDA Contact Person in Damascus, Syria
Ms Hana Sharif, Administrative Assistant
| Tel Office: |
00963-11-3331455/3320482 |
| Residence: |
00963-11-3338330 |
| Mobile: |
00963-94-428 286 |
| Fax: |
00963-11-3320483 |
|
|