Protection

UNHCR continues as mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and find solutions to refugee problems inside Syria. The ongoing conflict has increased vulnerabilities of refugees in Syria, and exposed them to greater protection risks and made the vast majority of them destitute.

UNHCR in cooperation with partner International and National NGOs undertake programmes aiming at reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing protection. The UNHCR Protection services provided included assessments, capacity building of UNHCR partners and outreach volunteers, targeted material assistance, socio-economic activities, recreational activities, psychosocial support (PSS), legal aid, SGBV referral and response, child protection activities, vocational training, community-based initiatives as well as awareness raising sessions on various issues, ranging from residency procedures to prevention of SGBV.

In order to provide community based protection and legal aid and maximize the outreach across key governorates hosting the majority of IDPs, UNHCR signed partnership agreements with 21 partners around Syria including International and National NGOs.

In 2015, UNHCR reached 865,654 beneficiaries with Protection & Community Services Interventions.

Community-Based Protection Approach

Inspired by the Syrian tradition of solidarity and social collaboration, UNHCR has realized the necessity of community participation in providing Protection to communities. Its Community-Based Protection approach puts the capacities, rights and dignity of affected individuals at the center of programming and contributes to a protection response in Syria which is sustainable and tailored to the needs of the affected communities.

UNHCR has designed several programmes protecting and empowering local communities. These include Community Centers, Community-Based Initiatives, Outreach Volunteers and capacity building, resilience and the empowerment of local organizations.