Syrian Refugees and Other Vulnerable Populations Appeal

Fourteen years into the Syria crisis, the humanitarian needs of children and families across the region remain critical. In 2025, 7,467,000 people in Egypt, Jordan, and Türkiye are in need, including 3,349,000 children, as refugees and vulnerable host communities face mounting economic, social, and political pressures. Since the political transition in Syria, while more than 821,586 Syrians have returned from neighboring countries, most are expected to remain in host countries due to ongoing barriers related to safety, livelihoods, and access to basic services.

The Syria crisis remains one of the world’s largest displacement situations, with more than 12 million Syrians forcibly displaced and over five million hosted in neighbouring countries. Türkiye hosts 2.5 million Syrian refugees, in addition to over 178,000 international protection applicants and status holders from other nationalities. Jordan hosts more than 564,000 Syrians, while Egypt is home to over 137,000 Syrians as well as more than 1.2 million Sudanese who have arrived since April 2023 due to the conflict in Sudan. 

Slow economic growth, high public debt, inflation, and declining investment are straining host countries’ ability to provide basic services. Unemployment is widespread, especially among refugees, youth, and women. Informal work is common, resulting in unstable incomes, limited protection, and persistent legal, administrative, and financial barriers.

As pressures rise, poverty and food insecurity deepen. Refugee families increasingly resort to harmful coping strategies such as skipping meals, withdrawing children from school, child labour, and early marriage. Rising tensions with host communities are also reported as a growing concern by refugees.

Despite the generosity of host governments, legal and policy restrictions continue to limit refugee inclusion and self-reliance, underscoring the need for sustained support and inclusive solutions. 

Lastly, climate change compounds existing vulnerabilities, severely impacting children in the region through extreme weather, displacement, and food shortages. Rising temperatures increase health risks such as heatwaves and disease, with migrant and displaced children particularly vulnerable.

UNICEF’s humanitarian response in Egypt, Jordan, and Türkiye aligns with its mandate, the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, the 3RP, and country response plans. The response combines urgent relief with long-term support, focusing on durable solutions, strengthening local and national capacities, and advocating for refugee and migrant integration into national systems. UNICEF supports safe, voluntary, and dignified returns while promoting continuity of care and services across borders and inside Syria. 

As the global cluster lead for WASH, Nutrition, and Child Protection, and co-lead for the Education Cluster, UNICEF integrates gender equality by prioritising the leadership and agency of girls and women. Delivering age, disability, and gender-sensitive services for children, youth, and families is central to UNICEF’s response. 

Under its education programme, UNICEF supports refugee integration into national systems as well as supports safe learning environments, leadership capacity, and sustainable energy solutions to keep schools open. Flexible pathways, including income-generation and social entrepreneurship skills, aid adolescents’ transition from learning to earning. 

UNICEF partners with national water authorities to deliver WASH services in camps and informal settlements, including emergency hygiene kit distribution. Climate-resilient WASH services reach communities vulnerable to climate change. 

Health services such as immunizations, maternal care, and severe waste treatment are provided. Nutrition interventions focus on malnutrition prevention, improved feeding, the early identification of developmental delays, and safe referrals.

To improve well-being, UNICEF strengthens child protection services, case management, and psychosocial support for those affected by harmful practices and sexual and gender-based violence. Safe feedback channels enhance risk mitigation and protect children from exploitation, including child labour and child marriage. UNICEF also provides cash transfers and social protection to help refugees and vulnerable households access essential goods. 

UNICEF supports refugees opting for voluntary return to Syria by delivering awareness-raising sessions on family separation, the risk of explosive ordnance, and essential immunization services. In coordination with Education ministries in Syria and refugee host countries, UNICEF promotes regional education approaches to prepare children for reintegration. 

UNICEF improves WASH and health facilities at border points, with specific attention to the needs of women, girls, and peoplewith disabilities. Creating safe spaces for refugee counselling supports protection continuity and reduces child protection risks. Due to concerns about children lacking legal documentation at the border, which raises trafficking and family separation risks, UNICEF provides child-friendly legal aid. 

Principles of social and behaviour change and risk communication and community engagement promote social cohesion and participation. Needs assessments and gender analyses support emergency preparedness at national and local levels.