Syria’s Humanitarian and Protection Crisis: Current Status
Updated June 21, 2018
Syria’s Humanitarian and Protection Crisis: Current Status
The humanitarian and protection needs of the Syrian
number is imprecise and fluid. Displacement shifts as the
population have increased in manifold ways since the start
situation on the ground evolves. Many Syrians, some of
of the Syrian conflict in March 2011. Years of war have
whom have been displaced multiple times within the
contributed to the vulnerability of millions of Syrians and
country, leave their homes to escape violence and then
led to an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths since 2011.
return when conflict in their area decreases. It is not clear
The majority of Syria’s remaining population (estimated to
how many IDPs are affected by repeat displacements, or if,
be about 17 million in 2016) requires humanitarian and
or how often, they are included in IDP counts. Many IDPs
protection assistance. The United States is the largest
stay in unofficial shelters, unfinished buildings, makeshift
humanitarian donor to Syria, and Congress may seek to
accommodations, and unofficial camps. IDPs are
further review U.S. funding and programs as well as
predominantly women, children, and the elderly. The most
address ongoing challenges, such as those associated with
vulnerable members of communities hosting refugees have
civilian protection.
been targeted for assistance. Syria also hosts refugees from
Scope of the Humanitarian Needs
elsewhere, including 30,000 Iraqis. Other populations have
been vulnerable to the conflict, particularly the remaining
In its 2018 Humanitarian Needs Overview, the U.N. Office
420,000 Palestinian refugees. New displacements continue
for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
to occur in areas where there is fighting.
estimated that nearly 69% of the Syrian population lives in
extreme poverty, with a majority in dire circumstances.
In addition, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR), more than 5.6 million Syrians have
Syrian Population: Key Indicators of Need
registered as refugees abroad, with most fleeing to countries
in the immediate surrounding region (Turkey, Lebanon,
9 mil ion people are food insecure (54% of population);
Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt) as well as Europe, where many
7.6 mil ion people are estimated to be in need of water,
Syrians have applied for asylum. Experts recognize that
sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance;
some fleeing Syrians have not registered as refugees and
11.3 mil ion people require health assistance (due to injuries,
have chosen instead to blend in with the local population,
disease outbreaks, serious medical conditions and
living in rented accommodations and makeshift shelters,
disabilities), and many have limited or no access to health
particularly in towns and cities. UNOCHA estimates that
services due to attacks on health infrastructure and
85% of all Syrian refugees are living outside camps in
personnel;
mostly urban settings, where refugees are often more
1.75 mil ion school-age children are out of school; and
difficult to identify and assist.
mil ions of people need shelter, and many others are without
Civilian Protection and Access Concerns
adequate housing due to damage or destruction of
Systematic violations of human rights and international
infrastructure.
humanitarian law (IHL) have been widespread by all
For the 5.3 million children affected by the conflict, the
parties, including the Islamic State. Civilian protection
impact can be seen in profound, life-changing ways. Many
concerns include mass executions, systematic rape and
have lost parents and siblings and experienced
sexual violence, torture, and appalling treatment of those in
psychological trauma or physical injury. Experts note a
detention. Conflict has also resulted in high levels of
sharp increase in child labor and other activities of an
civilian casualties, exposure to explosive hazards, and
exploitative and illicit nature involving children.
indiscriminate attacks. Groups with greater vulnerability
Population Displacement and Movement include children, youth, women and girls, people with
chronic illness, disabilities, and injuries, and the elderly.
Shifting frontlines, changeable territorial control, and high
According to many observers, religious and ethnic
levels of violence also make the provision of humanitarian
minorities have been under threat, and the security situation
assistance difficult if not impossible in some areas. As of
has had a major impact on their wellbeing.
May 2018, an estimated 13.1 million people inside Syria,
more than three quarters of the population, need assistance,
The protection of civilians in conflict is closely
including 5.6 million Syrians facing particularly acute
intertwined with a lack of access to populations and
needs due in part to conditions of displacement, exposure to
the safe provision of assistance.
hostilities, and limited access to basic goods and services.
Approximately 2.98 million people of those in acute need
National and international humanitarian efforts have been
are living in hard-to-reach areas controlled by Syrian
severely constrained in providing assistance and protection
government forces, opposition forces, or terrorist
to IDPs and others affected by the conflict in Syria due to
organizations.
restrictions imposed by the parties to the conflict.
Experts estimate that there are more than 6.1 million
Government and opposition interference, the closure of key
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Syria, but this
border points, bureaucratic procedures, and resource
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Syria’s Humanitarian and Protection Crisis: Current Status
shortfalls continue to hinder aid delivery, particularly to
insecurity are attributed to the decision by some to risk the
those living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Beyond
dangerous journey away from the region, with many fleeing
the security situation for aid convoys, the United Nations
to Europe and expanding the crisis’s impact.
also has reported on the challenges of procuring the
Humanitarian Funding
necessary permits from the Syrian government to deliver
In December 2017, the United Nations, along with
aid to several areas it is otherwise ready to reach.
humanitarian partners, launched several 2018 appeals for
International Response
Syria, including the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan
The international humanitarian response is massive and
(3RP) for $5.61 billion and the Humanitarian Response
complex and aims to keep pace with urgent developments
Plan (HRP) for $3.51 billion. Since 2011, U.N. appeals
as the crisis in the region continues to escalate. U.N-led,
have consistently remained underfunded and resulted in
multiagency cross-line convoys (between government-held
cuts to food aid and cash assistance. According to UNHCR,
and opposition-held areas) and cross-border operations
chronic funding shortages greatly limit aid programs for
(from Turkey and Jordan to Syria) provide humanitarian
refugees and host communities in the region. As of June 21,
assistance to millions of people across the country each
2018, the 3RP appeal was 36.9% funded and the appeal for
month, including when possible to besieged locations, with
Syria was 27.3% funded. Despite multiyear donor pledges
basic, life-saving relief including food and medicine.
and possible loan options from international financial
institutions to widen the resource base, funding remains
Selected Civilian Protection Efforts in Syria
insufficient for immediate needs.
In 2013, the United Nations activated a “Level 3 (L3)
The United States is the largest humanitarian donor to the
Emergency” for Syria to mobilize resources for the
Syria crisis and since FY2012 to May 11, 2018, has
humanitarian response. The provision of assistance remains
allocated more than $8 billion to meet humanitarian needs
dependent on guarantees from all parties to the conflict of
using existing funding from global humanitarian accounts
safe and unhindered access, which has not yet been achieved.
and some reprogrammed funding. U.S. humanitarian policy
L3 status has been extended until the end of December
is guided by concerns about humanitarian access and
2018.
protection within Syria, the large refugee flows out of the
country that strain the resources of neighboring countries
In 2014, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolutions 2139
and 2165 aimed at increasing humanitarian access and aid
(and could have a negative impact on the overall stability of
delivery in Syria. The resolutions (and subsequent related
the region), and a significantly protracted and escalating
resolutions renewing their mandate) have explicitly
humanitarian emergency. Given the complex and dangerous
recognized Syrian sovereignty, while authorizing the
operating environment, there are many challenges in the
expanded delivery of humanitarian assistance without the
delivery of assistance, including security of staff and
government’s permission.
oversight and remote management of programs.
The Administration’s FY2019 budget request for global
Reports of the U.N. Independent International Commission
of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic continue to highlight
humanitarian assistance totals $6.3 billion, which is roughly
the need for civilian protection.
33% less than the FY2018 enacted amount ($9.4 billion.)
The allocations for Syria have not yet been specified. In
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
keeping with established international humanitarian
continues to raise awareness about the obligations of States
standards, U.S. humanitarian assistance is provided on the
to ensure that the parties they support within Syria respect
basis of need alone and according to the principles of
and comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
universality, impartiality, and human dignity.
In the region, the types of assistance and shelter options
Outlook
available to refugees vary in the countries that are hosting
Areas where fighting has abated often remain unstable and
them. The added economic, energy, and natural resource
humanitarian priorities include establishing freedom of
pressures of large Syrian refugee populations weigh heavily
movement for civilians, facilitating civilian demining
on neighboring countries, particularly in Lebanon, Jordan,
activities, and providing assistance through humanitarian
and Turkey. The impact on many host communities has
organizations. Access is critical to any ceasefire as well as
become overwhelming, especially as the percentage of
movement towards a political solution, and the pressure on
registered refugees, compared to a country’s overall
humanitarian actors to deliver assistance, regardless of
population, continues to grow.
these broader developments, remains high. Challenges in
A priority for the international community has been to
the provision of lifesaving assistance, ongoing concerns
increase assistance to host countries and communities and
about protection of civilians, and extensive violations of
to encourage neighboring states to keep their borders open
IHL have also brought into question the limits of
to those fleeing conflict in Syria. However, as the conflict
humanitarian action in Syria. Congress may debate
has continued and escalated, neighboring countries have
humanitarian assistance and civilian protection measures as
taken steps to greatly limit official border crossing points or
it considers the Administration’s FY2019 budget request.
effectively close the border to refugees entirely, leaving
Rhoda Margesson, Specialist in International
thousands of Syrians stranded. Lack of assistance has
Humanitarian Policy
reportedly led to an increase in negative coping strategies,
such as begging, survival sex, and higher debt. Deepening
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poverty, lack of legal work options, limited education, and
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Syria’s Humanitarian and Protection Crisis: Current Status
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