Attachments
Regional Situation Overview
The Syria crisis, now entering its 14th year, remains one of the largest displacement crises globally, with more than 12 million Syrians forcibly displaced. Within this dire situation, approximately six million Syrian refugees are still hosted by neighbouring countries, amid deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian conditions.
Around nine out of ten Syrian refugees grapple with challenges in meeting their basic needs and more host communities than ever need assistance.1 Syrian refugee hosting countries have shown incredible hospitality for over a decade yet are suffering from layers of crises which have led in some countries to an increasingly challenging protection environment with heightened negative sentiments towards refugees and worryisome pressures for return to Syria. At the same time, international support for Syrian refugee hosting countries is declining.
The February earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria have also exacerbated this already dire situation. In Southeast Türkiye, 1.7 million Syrian refugees are among the nine million individuals affected. Additionally, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has led to a significant influx of refugees into Egypt, adding more demand for Egypt’s already stretched resources and public services. The recent hostilities in Gaza add additional challenges in this regard and threaten regional security conditions.
A recently published socio-economic impact assessment demonstrates a sharp decline in the Human Development Index (HDI), setting the State of Palestine back by between 11 and 16 years, depending on the intensity of the conflict.2 Moreover, regional implications on the war in Gaza can already be observed, with impacts on neighbouring countries’ economies.
In countries affected by the Syria crisis, the combination of protracted displacement and ongoing socio-economic challenges has had a devastating impact. In Lebanon, 90% of Syrian refugees now find themselves living in conditions of extreme poverty.3 Food prices have surged by 332% since June 2021, pushing 94% of refugee households to incur debt just to meet their essential needs.4 In Jordan, two-thirds of refugees have reported that their financial situation has worsened in the last 12 months while recent analysis conducted by UNHCR suggests that average household debt can be as high as JOD 1,261 (USD 1,778).5 In Türkiye, similar economic challenges, notably high inflation and currency fluctuations, have strained both refugees and host communities.
Official figures in September 2023 put inflation at 61.5%, with disproportionate impact on low-income households, especially in transport, food, and housing. The unemployment rate stands at 9.4%, with a notable gender disparity. Host communities are strongly affected too, with unemployment in Lebanon having more than doubled since 2019,6 and unemployment in Jordan remaining at an all-time high at 23%.7 While relative stability in Iraq has presented a unique opportunity for displaced Iraqis, returnees, and refugees to gain greater access to public services and social protection schemes provided by the Government, years of conflict have weakened the capacity and resilience of national institutions, rendering the country vulnerable to further shocks.
Refugee returns to Syria continue to remain low, with 38,257 returns verified or monitored by UNHCR from January to the end of December 2023. UNHCR’s latest return intention survey conducted in early 2023 indicated that while a majority of Syrians wish to return one day (56%), only a small number (1.1%) planned on doing so in the next 12 months. Resettlement and complementary pathways remain the most viable durable solution for Syrian refugees who continue to represent the refugee population with the highest global resettlement needs, with over 753,000 Syrian refugees projected to be in need of resettlement in 2024.8 With conditions in Syria not conducive for large-scale voluntary returns in safety and dignity, continued support to key refugee-hosting countries will remain critical to address humanitarian needs, maintain protection space and advance resilience.