NRC teams at the Adra IDP Centre in Damascus responding to the massive influx of internally displaced people from Eastern Ghouta. The influx was sudden, with high numbers of children. Photo: NRC

NRC in Syria

NRC is one of only a few agencies operating across all of Syria. Against a backdrop of intense conflict, we work to provide emergency, transitional and longer-term assistance to people in need.

A total of

612,080

people in need received our assistance in 2022.

 

Humanitarian overview

The Syrian crisis has now marked 12 years with unprecedented levels of humanitarian needs. The ability of Syrians to manage the consequences stemming from more than a decade of crisis has significantly diminished, as evidenced from the scarcity of essential services such as electricity and the substantial surge in living expenses, which are impacting families in a more profound manner than ever before. Currently, Syria bears the weight of having the largest population of internally displaced people (6.8 million individuals) globally, coupled with the highest number of people in dire need since the onset of the crisis. Consequently, both humanitarian and economic indicators are experiencing a continuous decline. Moreover, the earthquake that shook parts of the country on 6 February 2023 has further aggravated the already arduous situation, leaving approximately 8.8 million individuals affected. Numerous residences, fundamental service infrastructure, and installations have been destroyed, leaving countless people without access to an income, education, water and shelter.

  • 26,707
    people benefited from our education programme
  • 74,260
    people benefited from our food security programme
  • 53,107
    people benefited from our shelter programme
  • 103,841
    people benefited from our ICLA programme
  • 494,907
    people benefited from our WASH programme
  • 27,817
    people benefitted from other NRC activities

 

NRC's operation

NRC meets the needs of people affected by conflict and displacement in Syria. Amidst ongoing conflict, further socioeconomic and environmental deterioration, climate change and most recently the earthquake, we provide emergency, transitional, early recovery and resilience programmes.

We lead advocacy to promote unimpeded and sustained access to assistance for people across Syria. NRC calls for increased humanitarian funding, resilience and early recovery support to alleviate the hardships of the Syrian people. NRC supports long-lasting durable solutions for displaced Syrians.

 

NRC EducationEducation

 

Our teams ensure that educational opportunities for learning and skills building, for children and youth, are prioritised even in the most difficult circumstances. We work alongside communities to:

  • create opportunities for children to resume and continue their education through non-formal educational opportunities that support transition into formal education
  • support the retention of students at risk of dropout
  • provide quality non-formal educational opportunities where schools are not accessible
  • support displaced children with emergency education, recreation and psychosocial activities
  • support the capacity building and professional development of teachers
  • create welcoming schools through rehabilitation of learning spaces and WASH facilities, distribute learning materials and implement children-led activities
  • provide skills training, mentorship, job placement and business start-up assistance for Syrian youth

 

NRC Livelihoods and food securityLivelihoods and food security

 

NRC’s livelihood and food security (LFS) programmes are contributing to building the economic resilience of the Syrian people through various interventions that support access to sustainable livelihood opportunities. In 2022, NRC LFS key interventions included:

  • providing emergency cash for families to cover immediate basic needs including food and basic non-food needs
  • supporting individuals with skill development to access labour markets for their income and employment
  • providing support to individuals for start-ups through financial, training and technical support
  • financial support provided to SMEs to create jobs for youths through the scale-up of their businesses
  • job placement of unemployed youths and adults in the private sector
  • supporting agriculture and the food sector through rehabilitation of irrigation systems, and the provision of inputs to small scale farmers

 

NRC Shelter and settlementsShelter and settlements


We support the most vulnerable, including those who are displaced and those who stayed behind. We:

  • deliver emergency assistance such as tents, blankets, and basic essential household items
  • provide non-food items (NFIs) like winter clothing
  • rehabilitate damaged homes and community infrastructure
  • provide dignified and safe transitional shelter for people living in displacement

 

NRC Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH)

 

Our WASH teams work with vulnerable conflict-, earthquake-, water shortage- and displacement-affected populations to ensure their basic needs are met, to enjoy their rights and benefit from pathways to durable solutions. To this end we help improve access to safe and sufficient water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and services by:

  • providing emergency/temporary solutions including water trucking, distribution of household water storage tanks
  • rehabilitating damaged and sub-standard water infrastructures including boreholes, water supply networks
  • installing necessary solar power systems to ensure continuous, economic, and environmentally friendly functioning of rehabilitated water systems
  • rehabilitating damaged and sub-standard sanitation infrastructures including sewage network and supporting municipality solid waste management through distribution of community level waste bins and tractors
  • distributing hygiene kits, which include soap, washing powder and sanitary items
  • encouraging hygiene promotion and community cleaning efforts

 

      

About NRC in Syria

Established
2013
International staff
36
Areas of operation
Syrian Arab Republic
National staff
538