Syria Crisis

A Journey Into the Lives of Palestinian Refugees from Syria in Lebanon

The European Union Madad project published the work of 10 Palestine refugee students aged 15-17! Check out 'A Journey Into the Lives of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon.

UNRWA students stand with their school principals and Mr. Salem Dib, Chief of UNRWA education programme to receive an International School Award (ISA), in presence of Mr. David Knox, Country Director of the British Council in Lebanon. © 2018 UNRWA Photo by Cécile Massin

International Vision: UNRWA Schools in Lebanon Recognized for Globally Focused Curricula

Palestine refugees have been and continue to be among the most vulnerable populations in Lebanon

Elsie Abdallah adjusts the radio frequency as participants learn the phonetic alphabet © 2018 UNRWA Photo by Ahmad Abu Zeid.

By women, for women: UNRWA trains female staff to be safe in the field

“Uniform – November – Romeo – Whisky – Alfa,” Elsie Abdallah calls into the small black radio in her hand. “What am I spelling?” she asks the group of 30 women gathered in Neirab camp, near Aleppo, Syria. The women try to figure it out, using the phonetic alphabet projected on a screen in the front of the training room. A few seconds later, several call out, “UNRWA!” This is common scene during the Agency’s Women Security Awareness Training session. The one-day course is taught by women, for women. “Women are subject to a higher rate of safety incidents,” explains Elsie Abdallah, Head of...

Gharam Ghazi found a stable job thanks to support she received at the Community Centre in Dera’a. © 2018 UNRWA

UNRWA supports persons with disabilities to fulfill their dreams

I spent my childhood confined to bed, ill and depressed. When people visited us, I felt shy to meet them.

Mohammed, a 60-year-old Palestine refugee displaced from Ghouta picks up emergency assistance at the UNRWA Syria Field Office. © 2018 UNRWA Photo by Fernande van Tets

syria regional crisis response progress report

This mid-year progress report covers the period 1 January through 30 June 2018 and is intended to provide an update on results achieved under the full range of indicators included in the 2018 Emergency Appeal (EA) for the Syria regional crisis. An annual report covering the whole of the year...

Palestine refugees from Syria have been severely affected by the ongoing armed conflict. Of the total 438,000 Palestine refugees from Syria, the vast majority require assistance. Click here to read more.

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Facts and Figures

CASH ASSISTANCE

Cash assistance is a dignified, cost-effective and flexible tool to address the most immediate and urgent needs of vulnerable refugees in crisis. By allowing conflict-affected civilians to independently determine and meet their respective essential priorities, short-term cash assistance boosts individual coping strategies and enables refugees to allocate scarce financial resources to their own household priorities.

In 2018, cash assistance remains the priority intervention in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. The purpose of the regular cash assistance component is to cover basic needs such as food, non-food items (NFI) and shelter.

In Syria, UNRWA is running one of the largest cash assistance programmes anywhere in the world, helping Palestine refugees to meet part of their humanitarian needs with the dignity of choice. In 2018, UNRWA plans to distribute cash grants to 418,000 refugees. Through its partners, comprising a network of banks and private companies present in all regions of Syria, UNRWA provides cash assistance in a flexible and timely manner with minimal financial risk.

In Lebanon, 95 per cent of PRS are food insecure and greatly rely on UNRWA support to cover their basic needs. In 2018, 34,000 Palestine refugees from Syria (PRS) will receive a monthly multipurpose cash grant.

In Jordan, cash will be distributed in 2018 to 17,100 vulnerable and extremely vulnerable PRS. The purpose of the regular cash assistance component is to cover basic needs such as food, NFIs and shelter.

Click here to learn more about refugee camps prior to the start of the conflict in Syria.

Gap 87.50

Coverage 12.50

Funding Requirements

In 2018, UNRWA requires US$ 438 million for its humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, centred on preserving resilience through the provision of humanitarian assistance in the form of cash, food and relief items. UNRWA is also the main provider of basic healthcare to all 438,000 Palestine refugees in Syria as well as providing education to more than 48,000 students. In the nine official camps, the Agency ensures access to basic services including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). As of 1st of September 2018, the Emergency Appeal for Syria is 12,5% funded.

Total Appeal$438,000,000

Received to Date$54,750,000

Gap$383,250,000

Coverage12.50%

Gap87.50%

The Syria Crisis

Into the eighth year of conflict, conditions in Syria remain volatile and marked by continuing and intense armed violence and limited humanitarian access. Amid this unconscionable bloodshed and destruction, Palestine refugees remain particularly vulnerable and have been disproportionately affected by the conflict, due to their proximity to conflict areas inside Syria, high rates of poverty, and the tenuous legal status of those forced to flee to Lebanon and Jordan. The timeline below tells their story.

With thanks to our donors

Our ability to respond depends on the generosity of donors and the guarantee of safe and consistent access to those in need, in accordance with international law. We urge donors to maintain and increase their support in 2018 to mitigate the humanitarian impacts of the crisis in Syria, enhance the protection of civilians and prevent further suffering. We call on all parties to the Syria conflict to urgently pursue a negotiated solution and put an end to the violence, destruction, and violation of rights, dignity and humanity.