Background
UNHCR assists some 33,000 Syrian refugee families with its multi-purpose cash assistance programme (MCAP). UNHCR aims to support vulnerable families to meet their most basic survival needs and live a life of dignity. The UNHCR basic needs approach is designed to enable refugee families’ increased access to assistance and services, with the goal to achieve longer term wellbeing and improved socio-economic situation.
Families' monthly expenditures are predicted by an econometric model based on data from the Vulnerability Assessment of Syrian Refugees (VASyR), as well as demographic data on Syrian refugees who have approached UNHCR. The econometric formula ranks the population in the following vulnerability categories: severely, highly, mildly and least vulnerable. Severely vulnerable families are those with predicted expenditures below the Survival Minimum Expenditure Basket (SMEB) of 87USD/capita/month and are targeted for MCAP. Benefiting families receive a monthly transfer of USD 175, intended to complement other sources of income such as work and humanitarian assistance. As such, families are supported to climb above the extreme poverty line and lead a more dignified life.
The assistance is provided through an ATM card, allowing families to withdraw the cash from any ATM machine across the country.