New York / Geneva - On the eve of the fifth Brussels conference for Syria, the United Nations humanitarian, refugee and development chiefs have urged international donors to step up and stand with the millions of people in Syria and the region who depend on life-saving humanitarian aid and livelihood support after a decade of war.

With the added impact of COVID-19, there is no respite for civilians in Syria. They face increasing hunger and poverty, continued displacement and ongoing attacks. The neighbouring countries host four out of five Syrian refugees worldwide, in what remains the world’s largest refugee crisis, while also trying to address increasing socio-economic challenges for their own nationals.

Today 24 million people need humanitarian or other forms of assistance in Syria and the region. That is four million more than in 2020, and more than at any other time since the conflict began.

Sustained donor financing for the UN’s response plans will fund food, water and sanitation, health services, education, child vaccinations and shelter for millions of people living on the brink in Syria. It will also provide  cash assistance, job or training opportunities, and other services such as access to primary and secondary education, in conjunction with national systems, to millions in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, and Egypt.

In 2021, over US$10 billion is needed to fully support Syrians and refugee-hosting communities in need. This includes at least $4.2 billion for the humanitarian response inside Syria and $5.8 billion to support refugees and host communities in the region.

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said: “It has been ten years of despair and disaster for Syrians. Now plummeting living conditions, economic decline and COVID-19 result in more hunger, malnutrition and disease. There is less fighting, but no peace dividend. More people need more help than at any point during the war, and children must return to learning. An investment in kindness and humanity is always good but sustaining the basic living standards for people in Syria is also an essential ingredient of sustainable peace. That is in everybody's interest.”

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said: “After a decade of exile, refugees’ hardship has been compounded by the crushing impact of the pandemic, lost livelihoods and education, deepening hunger and desperation. The hard-earned gains we’ve collectively achieved over years are already at risk. The international community cannot turn their backs on the refugees or their hosts. Refugees and their hosts must get nothing less than our unfaltering commitment, solidarity and support.  A failure to do so will be catastrophic for the people and the region.”

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner said: “It has been 12 months like no other for people across the world. Yet, for refugees from Syria and their host communities in the region, the COVID-19 pandemic hit during a decade-long crisis - stretching them to breaking point. At present, poverty and inequality are skyrocketing as hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods. And countries that host refugees are struggling to provide basic services like healthcare and water. Now, more than ever, the support of the international community is needed to meet life-saving humanitarian needs – and to tackle the acute development emergency that the region now faces.”

At last year's conference in Brussels, the international community pledged $5.5 billion in funding to support humanitarian, resilience and development activities in 2020.

Additional resources

Supporting the future of Syria and the region, Brussels V Conference programme and livestreaming from the conference

Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan

Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan

Statement by the USG/ERC Mark Lowcock with voices from Syria

Syrian voices and picture gallery from Syrian photographers

Download data and graphics on the Syria crisis and funding over 10 years

Media contacts

OCHA: In Geneva, Jens Laerke, +41 79 472 9750, laerke@un.org, in New York, Zoe Paxton, +1 917 297 1542, zoe.paxton@un.org

UNHCR: In Amman, Rula Amin, aminr@unhcr.org  +962 (0)790 04 58 49; In Geneva, Andrej Mahecic, mahecic@unhcr.org  +41 79 642 97 09

UNDP: In New York, Theodore Murphy, theodore.murphy@undp.org +1-718-915-2097