Over five years of violence in Syria, approaching its sixth year in March 2017; the crisis has brought death and destruction to Syria. Millions of people have been forced from their homes or have fled the country. Many of them are children. Around 6.3 million people are displaced inside Syria, 5 million people live in besieged cities and hard-to-reach areas, and 4.8 million refugees live in the neighboring countries and beyond.
UNHCR statistics of 19 December 2016, reported 4,810,981 Syrian refugees registered. This figure includes 2.1 million Syrians registered by UNHCR in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, 2.7 million Syrians registered by the Government of Turkey, as well as more than 29,000 Syrian refugees registered in North Africa.
As of 9 December, 2016, the UN-coordinated inter-agency Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP 2016) was 55 per cent short in requested funding, or US$1.8 billion, out of an overall requested of $3.19 billion. This is concerning given the deteriorating situation across Syria, particularly given recent developments in Aleppo and the upcoming winter season. The continuous funding shortfall affects the ability of the UN, its partners, and INGOs to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance, including food, water and medical supplies, particularly facing the near collapse of Syria’s healthcare system, operational hospitals, medical staff and supplies of recent months.
ACT requesting members (RMs) in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, through their SYR171 appeal, are aiming to assist in reducing the vulnerability and alleviating the suffering of people who are affected by the conflict in Syria. Building upon the 3RP; ACT JSL requesting members will work across key sectors where the needs have been identified as the greatest in order to support the most vulnerable populations impacted by the ongoing crisis in Syria.
