Switzerland - As the conflict in Syria continues, IOM is appealing for USD 234 million to continue to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance inside Syria and for Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. Throughout 2017, IOM will scale up critical protection, life-saving and early recovery operations to meet the needs of Syrians as they struggle to cope with the protracted crisis.
  
The climate within Syria continues to deteriorate. Nearly 6.3 million Syrians are internally displaced and in need of shelter, food and health services. It is estimated that nearly 13.5 million Syrian women, men and children will be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2017.

Since the beginning of the crisis, nearly 4.8 million Syrians have sought refuge in neighbouring countries; Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt. Living in refugee camps, informal sites and within host communities, refugees face a myriad of challenges and often lack the means to address them. Syrian refugees face difficulties accessing employment, health services and education for their children.

“Years of conflict and subsequent displacement have taken a traumatic, harrowing and even deadly toll on the people of Syria,” said William Lacy Swing, IOM Director General. “Urgent funds continue to be needed to respond to the needs of millions of displaced Syrians and the communities that generously host them within Syria and in neighbouring countries. We appeal to the international community to help respond to their growing protection, humanitarian and resilience needs and ensure that all those who require support get it without any delay. The people of Syria have shown incredible resilience throughout this conflict and the international community should support them in their hour of need.”

IOM teams have been active in the Syria response since the beginning of the conflict. In 2014, IOM adopted a Whole-of-Syria approach to allow for rapid life-saving assistance to be provided directly from Damascus or across the border from neighbouring countries, in order to respond to the needs of the displaced and vulnerable. In addition to working inside Syria, IOM has a multi-sector Syrian refugee response that supports nearly 9 million people throughout the region.

Resources provided to support the IOM Syria Appeal will be used for emergency assistance including shelter support, core relief item distribution, water and sanitation hygiene support, healthcare and psychosocial support, among other activities. The funds will also be used for early recovery and resilience assistance activities such as family reunification, community stabilization, educational support, livelihood and resilience building, as well as entrepreneurship training and grants.

Download IOM’s 2017 IOM Syria Appeal here:
English
Arabic

Watch the IOM Syria Appeal video here: https://youtu.be/wE4b2TW_YlM

The launch of the IOM Appeal coincides with the launch of the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for 2017 and 2018, and the presentation of the humanitarian priorities for Syria at the Helsinki Conference on Supporting Syrians and the Region today (24/01).

Download the Syria Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan 2017-2018 here: http://www.3rpsyriacrisis.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/3RP-Regional-Strategic-Overview-2017-2018.pdf

For further information, please contact Olivia Headon at IOM HQ, Email: oheadon@iom.int or Tel: +41794035365.