Syria

DRC has been operating in Syria since 2008, initially supporting Iraqi refugees before fully responding to the Syria crisis from 2011. It addresses the full displacement cycle, from life-saving aid to community recovery and durable solutions. DRC Syria takes an area-based approach to support IDPs, returnees, and host communities across Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding.

Displacement Trends

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Definitions

EDPs: Refugees under UNHCR’s mandate
IDPs: Internally displaced persons
Asylum seekers: People whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined
Stateless: People not considered as nationals by any State
HST: People living in Host Communities
OIP: Others in need of International Protection
OOC: Others of Concern

Source: UNHCR

See definitions here

Forecast

DRC forecasts are based on a machine learning tool that has been developed to predict forced displacement (IDPs, refugees and asylum seekers) at the national level 1-3 years into the future.

See all available forecasts here

Why we are there

The Syrian crisis is the largest displacement crisis in the world. Millions of Syrians have been displaced across international borders and within Syria there remain over 5.5m displaced people. People’s homes have been heavily damaged and destroyed, and vital public infrastructure is not fully functioning.

Working with our country office in Damascus, DRC continues to support people in need, with a focus on communities affected by displacement. As the economic situation worsens, many families find themselves with no option but to return to live in heavily destroyed areas, with a high risk of encountering landmines and other remnants of war.

What we do in Syria

Having a safe and secure place to live is a basic right, and one that provides dignity for families. DRC works to repair people’s homes so they have a safe and warm space to live, while also repairing community infrastructure including schools and water pipes. In addition, DRC’s economic recovery programme aims to restore people’s opportunities to earn an income and develop their self-reliance.

Our protection programme additionally includes elements of mine risk education and clearance of mines and other ordnances, which is desperately needed across Syria.

DRC’s vision is to improve the safety, dignity, and resilience of conflict-affected populations by providing life-saving assistance and working towards sustainable long-term solutions. To that end, DRC continuously advocates for comprehensive and durable solutions for the displaced, and maintains UNHCR’s position that the conditions inside Syria are not conducive for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees to Syria.