September 2013 - The humanitarian situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated over the past year as a result of the civil war in the country. The United Nations estimates that 100,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands more wounded, due to the violence. Within Syria, some 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 4.25 million of whom are internally displaced. In addition, more than 2 million Syrian refugees are living in host countries in the region. By the end of 2013, the United Nations estimates that 10 million people in Syria will need humanitarian assistance and a further 3.55 million refugees from Syria will have fled to host countries, whose resources are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people needing assistance. With the support of DFATD and other donors, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is protecting and helping an estimated 3 million refugees in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as internally displaced Syrians, who had to leave their homes because of the conflict. Project activities include: registering refugees to ensure access to protection and assistance; providing emergency shelter and essential non-food items, such as baby kits, mattresses and bedding: providing supplies such as blankets and fuel vouchers to get through the winter; and, increasing access to safe water and sanitation facilities. UNHCR is also: providing health assistance, including psychosocial support and medical services, for refugees with specific needs, including children; supporting basic education, child protection, educational and recreational activities; conducting mine risk awareness campaigns to protect children; and, establishing safe spaces for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, especially women and girls, within the refugee and host communities.
