The conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic has resulted in one of the worst humanitarian and displacement crises in decades and the largest refugee crisis in modern times. With fighting and mass displacement continuing in many parts of Syria, there are over 5.6 million Syrian refugees across the region and some 6.6 million Syrians internally displaced. Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have shouldered the largest burden in hosting Syrian refugees. While showing astounding generosity, the sheer size of the Syrian refugee population has placed immense strain on these countries’ national systems, putting at risk development gains for their own citizens. The international community’s response has also been significant: $13b has been channeled through the UN-led inter-agency appeals for the regional refugee response since 2012, and more has been provided in bilateral aid and other funding modalities to host countries.
UNHCR’s support to Syrian refugees is anchored in a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy that seeks to: i) support host country resilience; ii) ensure refugee protection, well-being and enable their self-reliance; iii) expand access to resettlement and other safe pathways (complementary pathways) to a third country; and iv) plan for voluntary repatriation of refugees to Syria when conducive conditions are in place.
This paper focuses on the third strand of this comprehensive strategy: to expand access to resettlement and other complementary pathways.
Resettlement is arguably the most tangible and direct form of responsibility-sharing by the international community. It is a key intervention that provides an effective solution to refugee men, women, girls and boys who face particular vulnerabilities in the country of asylum. In parallel, it eases the burden on strained national and humanitarian systems, such as for healthcare or cash assistance. This in turn makes it more likely that asylum space will be maintained, and positive refugee policies on access to services and national systems will be applied.
Host countries in the region have been vocal in calling for increased resettlement for both Syrians and other refugees. The neighboring countries have all called for the international community to demonstrate its commitment in this manner. However, despite earlier commitments of States to provide access through resettlement and complementary pathways — including pledges made during the 2016 UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York — these opportunities are diminishing. Global resettlement allocations have in fact reduced.