Syria crisis: 12 years
Samira’s family is one of 350+ families seeking shelter at Sports City Stadium in Latakia city after the devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye & Syria in February.
The earthquake has worsened Samira’s circumstances who already suffers with asthma and is responsible for her disabled 28-year-old son.
Photo: ©UNHCR / Emad Kabbas
The earthquake has increased the hardship for Samira & other vulnerable Syrians, who were already struggling to support and care for their families. Life has become a constant struggle. Please help deliver relief to support them.
Cash Assistance
to help families cover basic survival costs like rent and medicine.
Shelter
to help families affected by the devastating earthquake who have lost their homes.
Education
to keep children in school.
More than a decade later: what’s happening in Syria?
After 12 years of crisis, the humanitarian needs of Syrians inside Syria and refugees and their host communities in the region are on the rise and have dramatically increased over the past year.
Over 6.8 million Syrians are still internally displaced, with 70% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance and 90% living below the poverty line. Additionally, more than 5.1 million Syrians are refugees in nearby countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, and are slipping further into poverty.
UNHCR is leading a coordinated effort across the region to protect Syrians who have been forced to flee. This includes protection services, emergency relief and shelter for those escaping escalations and violence, and ongoing care such as education, healthcare and psychosocial support.
Where are most refugees currently living?
Since the beginning of the Syria crisis 12 years ago, more than 14 million Syrians were forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Almost 5.5 million are refugees in the five neighbouring countries to Syria, 6.8 million are still displaced inside Syria.
The five major refugee hosting countries in the region include Türkiye where the largest number of registered Syrian refugees are hosted – currently 3.5 million people. Neighbouring and nearby countries like Lebanon (814,715 Syrians), Jordan (660,000 Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR), Iraq (260,341 Syrians) and Egypt (145,157 Syrians) have also generously welcomed refugees.
Many refugees have been now slipping further into poverty and living in formal refugee camps or inadequate and unsafe shelters for several years. For example, in Jordan: 77% of refugees living in host communities (not in refugee camps) are food insecure or vulnerable to food insecurity; whilst almost half (49%) of households are living below the abject poverty line.
Why can’t more people return home?
It’s still very dangerous for families in Syria. Millions have lost their homes, communities and loved ones, so are often unwilling – or unable – to risk the journey back. In some areas, crisis has abated, but returns are not yet possible as buildings and utilities have been completely destroyed, and threats such as mines need to be cleared.
Why do we need public support?
After years of upheaval, many Syrians have long exhausted any precious savings they were able to take with them when fleeing. They are now trapped in extreme poverty. With more than 13 million Syrians displaced inside Syria and around the world, public support has never been more vital. Every donation helps a Syrian refugee survive, recover and take steps to rebuild their lives until they can return home safely.
What is winter in Syria like?
Weather conditions in winter in Syria are severe, including bitter cold, snow and violent storms and displaced Syrians throughout the Middle East face snowstorms, flooding and freezing temperatures.
What help is needed during winter in Syria?
There has been a rapid rise in needs driven by a deepening economic crisis, rapid deterioration of the Syrian currency, gasoline shortages, cuts on gasoline subsidies, climatic shocks, ongoing displacement, recurring hostilities, and the February earthquakes.
This winter will be the 13th consecutive winter in displacement for many people in Syria, who continue to face increased food insecurity, cost of living, unemployment and the impact of February 2023 earthquakes. 2.7 million people are in urgent need of winter assistance in Syria.
Planned UNHCR winter interventions will include cash assistance and in-kind assistance, including tents, winter clothes, extra high thermal blankets, sleeping bags, waterproof floor covers, extra-plastic sheeting, portable heaters and rubber boots.
How has Türkiye-Syria earthquake impacted this crisis?
On 6th February 2023, two powerful earthquakes struck southern Türkiye, near the Syrian border, taking the lives of more than 42,000 people, with many more injured and missing.
The earthquake has exacerbated the fragile complex situation for millions of vulnerable Syrians and has added more burdens on them as they try to protect and provide for their families.
The humanitarian community estimates that 8.8 million people live in areas that have been most affected by the earthquake in Syria. Currently, hundreds of thousands of people are in need of urgent shelter.
The earthquake has also damaged non-residential buildings including some of the infrastructure, health facilities and schools. Many people have lost their livelihoods due to that.
Where is UNHCR on the ground?
We’re working inside Syria and in neighbouring countries across the region – delivering life-saving humanitarian aid to displaced families and supporting the efforts of host countries.
Where can I access the latest data and reports?
Syrian Operations – for latest on UNHCR’s relief work to protect displaced people inside Syria.
Syria Situation Portal – for latest updates on the crisis overall, including UNHCR situation reports, funding requirements and UNHCR’s support for neighbouring countries taking in refugees from Syrian refugees.
In Syria, 90% of Syrian families live under the poverty line.
Sarah is an 8-year-old Syrian refugee in Lebanon, born without a forearm.
Sarah lives with her parents, sister and two brothers in a two-room rooftop shack in Beirut, Lebanon. Both UNHCR and a Lebanese NGO called BionicFamily are helping Sarah with a prosthesis.
Support from UNHCR donors can help provide healthcare support for Sarah and many other refugees.
Photo: ©UNHCR/Houssam Hariri
Sarah is an 8-year-old Syrian refugee in Lebanon, born without a forearm.
Sarah lives with her parents, sister and two brothers in a two-room rooftop shack in Beirut, Lebanon. Both UNHCR and a Lebanese NGO called BionicFamily are helping Sarah with a prosthesis.
Support from UNHCR donors can help provide healthcare support for Sarah and many other refugees.
Photo: ©UNHCR/Houssam Hariri