Middle East and North Africa

2022 Population planning figures

• Refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries (including Turkey): 5.6 million

• IDPs: 6.7 million

• Women: 48%

• Children: 47%

• Women and Children: 72.1 %

2022 Situation overview

The Syria crisis, currently in its 11th year, remains the largest displacement crisis in the world. COVID-19 brought significant economic and social distress which will continue to impact Syrian refugees, IDPs and their host communities. While host governments and the international community stepped up their support for Syrian refugees in response, vulnerabilities will likely continue to worsen in 2022 due to the challenging socioeconomic situation.

UNHCR will continue to co-lead with UNDP the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) in response to the Syria crisis, coordinating the work of more than 270 partners in support of national efforts in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The 3RP will continue to connect the response with longer-term national strategies for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Refugee returns to Syria are expected to continue at similar levels, after approximately 25,000 opted for voluntary repatriation in the first eight months of 2021. UNHCR’s latest return intention survey, conducted in March 2021, indicated that while most Syrians wish to return one day (70%), only a small number planned to do so within the following 12 months (2.4%).

Over 610,000 Syrians have been identified with resettlement needs, the population with the highest resettlement needs globally. As the situation develops in Syria over the coming years, resettlement will remain a critical demonstration of responsibility-sharing by the international community.

Inside Syria, significant humanitarian needs will persist. UNHCR will focus on multisectoral assistance, including core relief items and shelter support, and will strengthen its community-based protection approach. UNHCR will continue to co-lead the Protection, Shelter, and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster responses.

2022 Population planning figures

• Refugees and asylum-seekers in neighbouring countries (including Turkey): 263,700
• IDPs: 1 million
• Women: 50%
• Children: 43%
• Women and Children: 71.7 %

2022 Situation overview

UNHCR's work in Iraq is gradually transitioning from an emergency response to a longer-term development approach. In 2022, UNHCR’s focus will be on promoting inclusion in social protection schemes, strengthening access to national services and employment opportunities, identifying comprehensive protection and solutions strategies for people of concern, and promoting the sustainability of return through small-scale infrastructure projects. At the same time, Iraq will likely continue to face economic, political and security challenges, many of which have been magnified by COVID-19.

The needs of the internally displaced and returnee population will remain high. IDP and returnee families will continue to face lack of access to basic services, destroyed or damaged property and critical infrastructure, a shortage of livelihood opportunities and financial resources in areas of return, and lack of civil documentation.

UNHCR will work closely with partners, including local authorities, to improve the living conditions of IDPs in camp and non-camp settings, including through the provision of cash assistance and core relief items. UNHCR will strengthen partnerships with development actors to better ensure the systematic inclusion of people of concern into national development plans and development-oriented programmes. UNHCR will continue to co-lead and coordinate the Protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), and Shelter clusters for the IDP response.