Middle East

Operational environment and strategy

The situation in the Middle East subregion remains complex and volatile; with the conflicts in Iraq, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen triggering massive levels of displacement as millions of people flee in search of safety.
 
Now in its sixth year, the conflict in Syrian Arab Republic has resulted in the internal displacement of over 6.1 million people, with nearly 4.8 million having fled to the neighbouring countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Intense fighting in the northern parts of the Syrian Arab Republic has led to a large number of civilian casualties and the displacement of over 400,000 people since the beginning of 2016. The deteriorating security environment significantly impacted the humanitarian situation, and limited the ability of United Nations agencies and their partners to deliver much-needed humanitarian relief. In particular, the humanitarian situation in the city of Aleppo and its surroundings has deteriorated severely in 2016. In Iraq, the ongoing conflict has led to a further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis and successive waves of mass displacement. More than 3.2 million people have been internally displaced since January 2014 and there are over 240,000 Iraqi refugees in the region. Since the start of the offensive in Mosul on 17 October 2016, over 90,000 individuals have been displaced. In Yemen, the already precarious situation deteriorated drastically in 2016; 8 out of 10 people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance. Security constraints and bureaucratic impediments severely hampered humanitarian assistance.
 
In addition to providing access to public services, some host countries made notable progress on policy and regulation changes in 2016, particularly in the areas of livelihood opportunities and education for refugees. However, protracted displacement also has a significant impact on the hosting countries. Despite the generosity of host governments and communities, displaced people across the region are becoming increasingly vulnerable and impoverished as the conflicts persist. In Lebanon, 70 per cent of Syrian refugees are living below the poverty line and in Jordan, 90 per cent of registered Syrian refugees who live in urban areas are below the national poverty line. Furthermore, the multiplicity of crisis in and around the region pushes people fleeing conflict to seek refuge in countries also affected by war. War-torn Yemen continues to be a destination country for new arrivals from Somalia. 
 
In 2017, UNHCR will continue to prioritize the provision of life-saving assistance and protection to internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees across the Middle East. In Syria and Iraq, UNHCR will continue to support the implementation of the Humanitarian Response Plans, leading the Protection, Non-Food Items (NFI) and Shelter, and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) sectors. As part of the whole-of-Syria approach, UNHCR will maximize the delivery of assistance and protection through cross-border and cross-line interventions to ensure those in besieged and hard-to reach areas can be reached. UNHCR will continue to work closely with governments and partners, co-leading the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP) to address the protection and assistance needs of Syrian refugees, as well as the most vulnerable members of host communities. In order to support the countries bearing the financial and social costs of the refugee crisis, UNHCR will continue to garner support of the international community including through increased resettlement commitments and other forms of humanitarian admission. In war-torn countries hosting refugees such as Yemen, UNHCR will also explore assisted spontaneous return options for people in need of international protection, when appropriate. Across the region, notably in Israel and the Gulf countries, UNHCR will continue targeted advocacy and media interventions as well as capacity building initiatives, to promote acceptance of asylum seekers and refugees. 

Response and implementation

Operations in Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are presented in separate country chapters. For other countries where UNHCR operates in the subregion, please see below.

In the Gulf region (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates), UNHCR will seek new partnerships with governments and the private sector while also working to advance engagement, cooperation and coordination with local organizations. In parallel, the Office will continue to strengthen its ties with regional bodies, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States as well as respective associated sub-organs. While GCC countries are not signatories to the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol and there are no legislative or administrative provisions which particularly govern refugees, the region adopts a policy of generosity and tolerance. There are almost 5,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR in the region. In addition, the six countries play host to millions of migrant workers from a diverse set of countries, many of which originate from refugee-producing countries. UNHCR works closely with authorities to enhance protection interventions and ease restrictions for humanitarian cases when applicable.