Strategy 2024
After more than 12 years of conflict, humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate in north-west Syria due to ongoing hostilities, a worsening economic crisis, severe weather conditions, and the aftermath of devastating earthquakes in February 2023. The conflict in Syria has continued to drive displacement. North-west Syria has a population of approximately 5 million people with 3.6 million internally displaced, and 1.9 million living in camps and self-settled sites. Since the start of 2023, at least 4.1 million people in north-west Syria rely on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs. Approximately 80% are women and children who are particularly vulnerable to many risks, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Since 2014, following the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2165, UNHCR and other UN agencies have been delivering cross-border activities from Gaziantep, southern Türkiye through one border crossing point, to address humanitarian needs in non-government controlled held areas of northern Syria. However, following the non-renewal of the security council resolution in July 2023, UN agencies now rely on the consent of the Syrian government and the de facto authorities to continue delivering assistance and accessing north-west Syria through three border crossings (Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salaam and Al Ra’ee).
In response to the February 2023 earthquakes, UNHCR staff gained unprecedented access to north-west Syria which allowed UNHCR to directly assess needs, monitor projects, and engage with the local population. UNHCR’s strategy in 2024 will focus on providing much needed humanitarian assistance and community-based protection to IDPs in a more targeted and accountable manner, with increased advocacy to keep the border open and enable cross-border missions. UNHCR will continue its dignified shelter response to provide better and safer shelter solutions for both protracted and newly displaced persons, enhance protection through community-based initiatives, and expand cash-based interventions. UNHCR will continue to lead the CCCM, Shelter/NFI, and Protection clusters. The cross-border operation will continue to strengthen advocacy, including promoting the centrality of protection, within the Inter-cluster Coordination Group and the Humanitarian Leadership Group.
Populations
Population types
Financials
Budget and expenditure trends
Budget by Impact Area | 2024
Protect: Attaining favorable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Area | 2024
The activities that UNHCR plans and undertakes around the world are described under "Outcome Areas". The support and management functions needed to run UNHCR’s programmes and improve efficiency and effectiveness are covered by "Enabling Areas".
Stories
Aid offers vital lifeline to quake-hit families in north-west Syria
Having rebuilt her life after fleeing conflict, February’s disaster forced Shamseh and her family into a remote camp where – like millions across the region – they require help to survive.
One year after the earthquakes
One year has passed since a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria on 6 February, unleashing nearly 14,000 aftershocks. It was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the region, impacting around 8.8 million people in Syria. Some 6,000 deaths and more than 12,000 injuries were reported in the whole of Syria.
