Syria Humanitarian Fund Annual Report 2024

LETTER FROM THE HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR

I am pleased to present the 2024 Annual Report of the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF), which reflects our collective achievements in a year marked by profound challenges and continued resilience among the people of Syria.

In 2024, Syria entered its 14th year of conflict amid a worsening economic collapse, record-high food insecurity, renewed hostilities in several regions, and the enduring impact of the February 2023 earthquakes. By year’s end, 16.7 million people— over two-thirds of the population—were in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite these escalating needs, humanitarian funding reached its lowest point since the beginning of the crisis, severely constraining response capacity.

Within this complex environment, the SHF remained a vital lifeline. Thanks to the generous contributions from our donors, the SHF allocated US$ 29.9 million to reach nearly 785,000 people with integrated, lifesaving, and life-sustaining assistance. Prioritizing areas with the highest inter-sectoral severity of need, the Fund supported a wide range of interventions spanning food security, health, nutrition, WASH, early recovery, protection, and shelter.

The SHF promoted cash and voucher assistance, with 20 per cent of SHF funding directed towards cash and voucher assistance, enabling vulnerable families to meet their most pressing needs with dignity. The Fund also reinforced the centrality of protection, including GBV prevention, child protection, and mine action, as well as advanced accountability to affected populations, inclusive programming, and safeguarding.

In alignment with our commitment to localization and inclusivity, the SHF allocated 29 per cent of its funding directly or indirectly to national and local NGOs. This approach not only enhanced the reach and responsiveness of the Fund but also strengthened the leadership and capacity of Syrian organizations deeply rooted in the communities they serve.

The SHF invested in the capacity of local actors through training, compliance support, and mentorship programs to ensure effectiveI call on all stakeholders—donors, partners, and the broader international community—to renew their commitment to Syria. Your support is not only a matter of humanitarian necessity, but a testament to our shared responsibility to protect the dignity and rights of millions of Syrians still enduring the consequences of conflict, displacement, and economic crisis. With adequate resources, the SHF can continue to make a difference—ensuring that those most in need are not left behind and accountable response mechanisms.

Despite the constraints, our implementing partners demonstrated unwavering dedication, delivering critical services under increasingly difficult conditions. I extend my sincere gratitude to them, and to our sector coordinators and SHF Advisory Board, whose guidance and support were instrumental in shaping a targeted and accountable response.

Looking ahead to 2025, the humanitarian outlook remains deeply concerning. The number of people in need is projected to remain alarmingly high, while resource gaps persist. As we transition to a unified humanitarian coordination structure based in Damascus, the SHF will continue to serve as a critical enabler of timely, localized, and needs-driven humanitarian action. We will focus on expanding early recovery linkages, leveraging flexible funding to bridge humanitarian and resilience needs, and advocating for sustained donor commitment to close the funding gap.

Sincerely,

Adam Abdelmoula

Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria