Syria Humanitarian Fund: Reserve Allocation Strategy, Round 2 (2023)

Section 1: Strategic Statement

The 12 years of protracted humanitarian crisis in Syria was exacerbated by a series of devastating earthquakes which struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023, causing massive destruction of the residential buildings and basic services infrastructure and thousands of injuries and deaths, and forcing tens of thousands to leave their homes. The destruction has compounded the pre-existing large scale humanitarian needs, logistical and access constraints to certain areas amidst winter conditions and an ongoing cholera outbreak. Hospital capacities are overwhelmed, collective centers are unequipped and overcrowded, and the internally displaced people, especially children are faced with protection risks, and elevated levels of distress.

Responding to the critical humanitarian needs stemming from the earthquakes, a total amount of $23 million is available under this allocation to support the following two priorities:

• Priority one: Scaling up the humanitarian response and provision of lifesaving health services, protection assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene support, and shelter assistance to earthquake-affected people, as well as addressing nutrition, food, and education needs in critically underfunded areas.

• Priority two: Promoting early recovery and access to livelihood through the creation of job opportunities for earthquake-survivors and securing the areas where there are completely or partially collapsed buildings, posing threats to people commuting to work or schools and hospitals.

The allocation aligns with the HC’s vision and aims to scale up humanitarian response with a focus on the most severe needs, complementing the 1st Reserve Allocation to strengthen the holistic rapid response to the crisis and recognizing the importance of transitioning towards early recovery.

Given the limited financial resources available, and the urgency of the response, this allocation will fully utilize the available balance, the pledged contributions and $5 million of the pipeline balance.