Syrian Refugees and Other Vulnerable Populations Appeal

Fifteen years of crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic has created one of the world’s largest displacement situations, with more than 12 million people forcibly displaced and more than 5 million hosted in neighbouring countries in 2026. Türkiye currently hosts 2.5 million Syrian refugees alongside 178,000 other international protection applicants. Jordan is home to more than 564,000 Syrians, while Egypt hosts more than 124,000 registered Syrians and an estimated 1.5 million Sudanese who have fled conflict in the Sudan since April 2023. Although more than 1 million Syrians have returned to the Syrian Arab Republic since the political transition, most are expected to remain in host countries due to persistent barriers to safety, livelihoods and access to services.

The needs of children and families across the region remain substantial. In 2026, 7.2 million people, including 3.1 million children, in Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye will require humanitarian assistance. Refugees and vulnerable host communities continue to face mounting economic, social and political pressures that erode resilience and stability.

Slow economic growth, high debt and inflation continue to strain host countries’ capacity to provide essential services. Refugees, women and youth face widespread unemployment and rely heavily on informal work, leaving them with unstable income and limited protection. Legal and structural barriers also restrict their access to formal employment and financial inclusion.

As pressures deepen, poverty and food insecurity are rising sharply. Refugee households increasingly resort to such harmful coping mechanisms as skipping meals, child labour, child marriage and school dropout. These growing hardships have also contributed to heightened social tensions between refugees and host communities.

Host governments have demonstrated significant generosity in maintaining access to basic services, yet ongoing legal and policy constraints hinder full refugee inclusion and self-reliance. Sustained international support and investment in more inclusive, resilience-based approaches are essential to protect gains and prevent further deterioration. 

Climate change further compounds these vulnerabilities. Rising temperatures, water scarcity and extreme weather events are affecting access to food, health and livelihoods. This places children at greater risk of malnutrition, heat-related illness and disease outbreaks. Continued efforts to integrate climate adaptation and child protection are essential and must be enhanced to meet the escalating impacts of the climate crisis.

UNICEF’s humanitarian response in Egypt, Jordan and Türkiye is guided by its mandate, the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) and country response plans. In 2026, UNICEF aims to reach 3.1 million people, including 1.9 million children, combining urgent relief with longer-term support, emphasizing durable solutions, strengthened local and national capacities and advocacy for the inclusion of refugees and migrants in national systems. UNICEF also supports safe, voluntary and dignified returns while ensuring continuity of care and services across borders and inside the Syrian Arab Republic. 

As the sector lead for WASH, nutrition and child protection and co-lead for the education sector, UNICEF prioritizes gender equality by promoting the leadership and agency of girls and women. Delivering age-, disability- and gender-sensitive services for children, youth and families remains central to its response. 

In education, UNICEF supports refugee integration into national systems, safe learning environments, leadership development and sustainable energy solutions to keep schools operational. Flexible pathways, including income-generation and social entrepreneurship opportunities, help adolescents transition from learning to earning. 

UNICEF partners with national water authorities to provide WASH services in camps and informal settlements, including emergency hygiene kit distribution. Climate-resilient WASH infrastructure reaches the communities most vulnerable to climate change. Health services include immunization, maternal care and safe waste management. Nutrition interventions focus on preventing all forms of malnutrition; early detection and treatment of wasting; provision of appropriate micronutrient supplementation; identification of developmental delays; and ensuring safe and timely referral pathways. 

To strengthen child well-being, UNICEF enhances protection services, case management and psychosocial support for children affected by harmful practices or sexual and gender-based violence. Safe feedback channels mitigate risks including child labour and child marriage. Cash transfers and social protection programmes help refugees and vulnerable households access essential goods.

For refugees choosing voluntary return to the Syrian Arab Republic, UNICEF provides awareness sessions on family separation, explosive ordnance and essential immunization, while coordinating with education ministries to prepare children for reintegration. At border points, UNICEF improves WASH and health facilities with attention to women, girls and persons with disabilities. Child-friendly spaces provide counselling, legal aid and protection continuity. 

Social and behaviour change and risk communication and community engagement promote social cohesion and participation. Needs assessments and gender analyses strengthen emergency preparedness at national and local levels, ensuring a coordinated, inclusive and child-focused response. 

In refugee-hosting countries, UNICEF is also advancing preparedness efforts to support safe, dignified, and voluntary returns and ensure the continuity of services inside the Syrian Arab Republic.