REGIONAL OVERVIEW
The Syria crisis continued to drive one of the largest refugee crises in the world in 2017, with over 5.4 million Syrians registered as refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt by the end of the year. The living situation for many refugees across the region continued to be extremely challenging, with many lacking the necessary resources to meet their basic needs. Meanwhile, millions of vulnerable people in refugee-hosting communities in host countries also required assistance. Broader political, economic and social trends in some cases compounded the conditions facing both refugees and host communities.
Host countries and communities continued to show exceptional generosity towards refugees, remaining the first and most important responders to the crisis. As in previous years, 3RP partners across the region supported these efforts, delivering protection and assistance programming that benefitted Syrian refugees, host community members, and supported the national systems and services that refugees and host communities alike rely on to meet their basic needs. 3RP Partners, in support of national efforts, can point towards tangible achievements in 2017 that made a concrete difference in the lives of refugees and host communities. Moreover, 3RP Partners continued to drive innovation as a pillar of the response, examples of which are outlined below in the country sections. At the same time, programmes that helped bridge humanitarian and development activities were advanced.
For example, in Jordan, emergency employment through the 3 x 6 approach facilitates the transition between emergency employment to more sustainable livelihoods.[1] In Lebanon, more than USD 202 million (17 per cent of the overall funding received for the response) was channeled to public institutions to strengthen service delivery, policy development, capacity building and institutional stability. Meanwhile, in Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, numerous efforts are being made to integrate Syrians into national systems: for example in Turkey, where the provision of training to qualified Syrian medical personnel contributed to local health systems, enabling people to serve their own communities.
The work of 3RP Partners would not have been possible without the extremely generous support of donors. Donor governments have provided an unprecedented level of financial support over the last few years, including USD 2.48 billion contributed to the inter-agency appeal in 2017. This means that well over USD 12 billion has been provided through the 3RP and predecessor appeals since the start of the crisis. Donors also provided multi-year funding, enabling partners to offer enhanced, longer-term and more predictable programming.