Humanitarian Update Syrian Arab Republic - Issue 21 / February 2024 [EN/AR]

Humanitarian needs in Syria continue to rise. Escalating violence, destruction of civilian infrastructure and a further decline of basic services have led to additional displacement and eroded people’s coping strategies. The socioeconomic situation has continued to deteriorate, further exacerbated by the February earthquakes, negatively impacting social cohesion and amplifying vulnerabilities. The effects of economic deterioration and lack of livelihood opportunities further expose women and girls to the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse and other forms of gender-based violence in the effort to access food and job opportunities.
In 16.7 ,2024 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance or protection, the largest number since the beginning of the crisis in 2011. Despite challenges, the UN and partners are committed to helping the people of Syria and are working tirelessly to provide humanitarian support to those who need it most.

ECONOMIC Update

Currency depreciation has been accompanied by rising inflation, driven by reduced access to goods, disrupted supply chains, and heightened logistics costs, all of which exerted significant upward pressure on prices, including agricultural production inputs.
The reduction in government subsidies for fuel and fertilizers is another factor in price hikes. Additionally, there has been a sharp rise in transportation costs, irrigation water pumping fees, and mechanized agricultural work, all of which impacted agricultural production inputs. This has in turn resulted in a sharp increase in the prices of agricultural and food products, especially meat, dairy and eggs, making them unaffordable for most of the population.

As a result of the declining humanitarian situation, the majority of Syrians are struggling to meet their basic needs. Now in its 14th year of crisis, Syria is grappling with an unprecedented emergency as protracted displacement, economic decline, global inflation, climate change, escalation of hostilities and the aftermath of the earthquakes continue to take a heavy toll on the people.