Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund: 2024 First Standard Allocation Strategy

Thirteen years into the conflict, the humanitarian crisis in northwest Syria has worsened due to ongoing conflict and economic hardship, exacerbating the needs of 4.2 million people out of a total population of 5.02 million, including 3.65 million food-insecure people and 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), of which 74 per cent are women and children. With limited access to essential services and infrastructure, northwest Syria faces severe shortages in all sectors, including healthcare, education, protection, food security, nutrition, water, sanitation, and shelter. Protracted displacement, economic decline, and a recent escalation of hostilities have resulted in new displacements and increased vulnerability among the population.

The 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 18.3 percent funded, severely hampering the ability of humanitarian partners to meet critical needs. This funding gap threatens the continuity of essential services, putting lives at risk.

With the 2024 First Standard Allocation (SA1, 2024), titled “Ensuring continuation of critical lifesaving services and fostering resilience through multisectoral, community-driven approaches to protect and empower the populations in northwest Syria”, the Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (DRHC), in consultation with the Advisory Board and the Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), makes available an estimated US$30.5 million aiming to address the most pressing needs by providing coordinated multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance to vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) and other conflict-affected people in northwest Syria through three strategic envelopes:

• Envelope 1: Ensuring uninterrupted critical and lifesaving services and enhancing protection for people and groups at heightened risk (Indicative US$15 million).
• Envelope 2: Supporting increased resilience of the most affected communities (Indicative US$14.6 million).
• Envelope 3: Promoting and empowering local, inclusive, and innovative initiatives (Indicative US$900 thousand).

The allocation enables partners to continue critical services in health, WASH, nutrition, protection, and food security, addressing funding shortfalls, and ensuring access to essential services. This includes providing affordable medicines, stabilizing health services, and granting disease control. WASH and shelter support will address critical gaps and strengthen infrastructure for access to basic services. Nutrition and protection services will focus on prevention and response, particularly for pregnant and lactating women, GBV survivors, child protection, and disability support. Food security efforts will enhance food distribution systems.

Enhancing the resilience and self-reliance of communities in northwest Syria reamins crucial. The allocation supports social cohesion by maintaining IDP site facilities, providing dignified shelters, and supporting livelihoods. Key interventions include non-formal education and vocational training for out-of-school youth, food security through agriculture and livestock support. Additionally, efforts will promote peaceful coexistence, enhance WASH services, and maintain infrastructure for those in need of recovery and livelihoods support.

By prioritizing system strengthening and supporting locallly-led initiatives and actors, including women, youth, and disability-focused organizations, community participation, ownership, and sustainability of interventions will be enhanced. This localized approach not only meets immediate needs but also builds sustainable foundations for future stability and recovery.

These actions address the pressing humanitarian needs highlighted in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO), providing essential services and support to those at heightened risk. The allocation is built in consultation with key stakeholders and donors, including CERF funding to maximize impact in a challenging funding landscape.

The SCHF remains committed to advancing localization, promoting participation, and strengthening the capacity of local and national partners. The allocation will promote gender and age considerations, disability inclusion, centrality of protection, and accountability to affected people. Additionally, it will continue to strategically use Multipurpose Cash (MPC).