Syrian Arab Republic — humanitarian situation

Syria's protracted humanitarian crisis continues to evolve against a backdrop of persistent violence, displacement dynamics, and severe humanitarian needs. Recent security incidents include an 18 August Israeli airstrike on Abu al-Duhur airbase and ongoing competition over territorial control, reflecting the fragmented nature of the conflict (SARI Global). Violence against health care remains a critical concern, with 74 incidents documented in 2025, resulting in 22 health workers killed, 21 arrested, and ten kidnapped (Insecurity Insight, SHCC). These attacks underscore the dangerous operating environment facing health personnel and the broader obstruction of medical services across the country. Cross-border displacement patterns have shifted following the 17 April 2026 ceasefire in Lebanon, with movements from Lebanon into Syria declining after reaching a peak of 153,087 arrivals on 27 April IOM. From 2 March to 24 August, DTM identified 125,375 arrivals into Syria, though approximately 27,712 Syrian and Lebanese nationals have since returned to Lebanon, indicating more stabilized and gradual mobility patterns. Türkiye continues to host the world's largest refugee population, with approximately 2.7 million registered Syrian refugees as of 2016 and ongoing protection assistance reaching nearly 21,000 people through UNHCR partnerships with six NGO partners in 2026 (ODI-HPN, UNHCR). Food insecurity and acute malnutrition remain pressing sectoral concerns. WFP and the Republic of Korea launched the second phase of the REACH initiative with USD 5 million to provide life-saving food and nutrition assistance to approximately 38,000 of the most vulnerable people over the next 12 months, specifically targeting severe food insecurity and rising acute malnutrition WFP. Climate-related pressures are intensifying vulnerability and interacting with governance failures and resource constraints to compound risks DEC. Local organizations have become increasingly central to humanitarian response, with their leadership representing not merely a practical consideration but an existential necessity for reaching affected populations across Syria's fragmented operating landscape (ODI-HPN).