UNHCR is responding to the humanitarian needs of 6.1 internally displaced persons inside Syria.
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 33 partners around Syria including International and National NGOs.
In 2017, protection activities reached out to 2.6 million affected populations in 13 governorates, including Raqqa where a new community centre was opened. UNHCR together with its partners established 27 new community centres and 30 mobile units in newly accessible areas and areas of return, including in Deir-es-Zour where legal assistance was provided through UNHCR’s legal partner..
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. In 2017, UNHCR continued to rely on its community-based protection strategy implemented primarily through community centres, mobile units, and outreach volunteers to ensure that a maximum of individuals in need are reached.
The community centres function as ‘one-stop shops’ offering a wide range of integrated protection-related services and programmes for people of diverse profiles and with diverse needs.