After eight years, the conflict in Syria continue to have dramatic consequences on the lives of civilians. Violent and widespread hostilities have resulted in deaths and injuries, internal displacement, large-scale migration to other countries, lost livelihoods and mounting needs.
Palestinians continued to be severely affected by the conflict throughout 2018. Of the estimated 438,000 Palestine refugees remaining inside Syria,1 a vast majority are in critical need of sustained humanitarian assistance. Some 254,000 Palestine refugees have been displaced at least once since the beginning of the conflict and an estimated 13,500 are trapped in hard-to-reach or inaccessible locations.2 Ein el Tal, Dera’a and Yarmouk official and non-official camps, previously home to more than 30 per cent of the Palestine refugee population in Syria, have been largely destroyed by the hostilities.
More than 120,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria (PRS) have fled the country, including around 29,000 currently present in Lebanon and 17,719 in Jordan.
Many face a precarious and marginalized existence due to their uncertain legal status and limited social protection mechanisms, making them heavily reliant on UNRWA for their basic needs.
In 2019, UNRWA requires US$ 277 million for its humanitarian response to the Syria regional crisis. The Agency’s humanitarian response will be guided by the following three strategic priorities:
• Strategic Priority 1: Preserving resilience through the provision of humanitarian assistance, ensuring that the most vulnerable refugees meet their basic needs.
• Strategic Priority 2: Contributing to a protective environment for Palestine refugees by maintaining access to basic services including health, education, livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene and protection.
• Strategic Priority 3: Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of emergency programme delivery through strengthened humanitarian capacity, coordination and management.
The 2019 Syria Emergency Appeal is available at https://reliefweb.int/node/2970039