---
title: "NRC in Syria"
description: "After more than a decade of brutal conflict – and a devastating earthquake in February 2023 – half the population of Syria are displaced from their homes and in urgent need of humanitarian aid. We’re one of the few agencies operating across the whole country."
url: "https://www.nrc.no/countries/middle-east/syria"
language: "en"
published: "2025-03-21T09:41:59Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T13:59:56Z"
---

# NRC in Syria

Hasan and his family live in a collective shelter in Aleppo. Photo: Tareq Mnadili/NRC

After more than a decade of brutal conflict, Syria is changing rapidly. Millions are attempting to return home, but localised violence, renewed displacement and climate-related risks create significant challenges for people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and support to rebuild their lives.

Published 21. Mar 2025 Updated 22. Sep 2026

[Syria](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=108)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is operating across the whole country providing emergency, transitional and early-recovery support to help families recover from what they’ve been through.

## What’s happening in Syria?

The conflict in Syria killed thousands of people, drove millions from their homes and had a destabilising impact on the wider geographical region. After nearly 15 years of crisis, Syria has entered a period of rapid and complex change. Since late 2024, increased returns have taken place alongside continued displacement, localised violence and growing climate-related risks.

Displacement continues to shape life across the country. More than 7 million people remain uprooted, while millions of Syrians have reportedly returned to their areas of origin since late 2024. However, many returnees face major barriers, including damaged housing, unresolved property claims and limited access to basic services and livelihoods.

Localised conflict in parts of southern and northern Syria has displaced thousands of people once again. At the same time, families continue to face floods or droughts, water shortages, overstretched infrastructure and rising living costs, making it difficult for many people to afford food and other essentials. Camps and informal settlements remain home to many, particularly in north-west and north-east Syria, while host communities are under increasing strain as they try to support both displaced families and returnees with limited resources.

This evolving situation has created an opportunity to move beyond short-term emergency assistance during protracted crisis and support longer-term recovery, helping people rebuild their lives and attain solutions.

## Our response

We’re working with our partners in the following areas:

- **Water, sanitation and hygiene** – rebuilding boreholes, water networks and sewage systems, as well as distributing soap, washing powder and sanitary items.
- **Shelter and settlements** –repairing damaged homes and community infrastructure, supporting urban planning to inform recovery, and distributing blankets, warm clothing and essential household items.
- **Livelihoods** – providing cash assistance to cover basic essentials, helping people find job opportunities, offering vocational training, and supporting start-ups and small businesses.
- **Education** – supporting formal and non-formal education systems and helping displaced children and young people access emergency education, recreation, psychosocial support and youth vocational training.
- **Protection from violence** – providing protection monitoring, case management, individualised assistance and support to build protection plans and capacity through civilian self-protection.
- **Information, counselling and legal assistance** – offering legal consultation and support in accessing legal documentation, and supporting access to housing, land, and property rights, and collaborative dispute resolutions.

[Download the factsheet for NRC in Syria](https://www.nrc.no/resources/fact-sheets/nrc-syria--fact-sheet)

## Our operations

**NRC office established:** 2013

**Areas of operation:** Syrian Arab Republic

## Our impact

In 2025, we assisted 576,103 people through our programmes in Syria:

- 30,742

  Education
- 7,101

  Livelihoods and food security
- 92,489

  Shelter and settlements
- 694

  Protection from violence
- 31,493

  Information, counselling and legal assistance
- 488,934

  Water, sanitation and hygiene
- 7,895

  Multi-purpose cash assistance

***Note:** some people received more than one type of assistance.*

**Contact details:**

For more information on NRC's programmes in Syria, please contact: [Sy.infosyria@nrc.no](mailto:Sy.infosyria@nrc.no)

### News and stories

## [Hope and hardship](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/hope-and-hardship)

15. Sep 2026 | Syria

## [Masara's paper plane](https://www.nrc.no/feature/2026/masaras-paper-plane)

03. Sep 2026 | Feature

## [Calculated risks](https://www.nrc.no/feature/2026/calculated-risks)

01. Sep 2026 | Feature

[More news and stories](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=123,125,172,335,108&searchMethod=1)

### Publications

## [Information, Counselling, and Legal Assistance (ICLA) programme Legal Needs Assessment](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/icla-programme-legal-needs-assessment)

15. Jun 2026 | Syria

## [Exploring blockchain technologies for humanitarian transactions into Syria](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/exploring-blockchain-technologies-for-humanitarian-transactions-into-syria)

27. May 2026 | Syria

## [Unlocking Rights in Northeast Syria: The Importance of Civil and Legal Documentation](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/unlocking-rights-in-northeast-syria-the-importance-of-civil-and-legal-documentation2)

02. Jul 2025 | Syria

[More publications](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=124,131,132,175,178,314,315,108&searchMethod=1)

**Region:** Middle East  
**Population:** 25.62 million  
**Total displaced:** 10.9 million  
**Refugees hosted:** 0.3 million