THE SITUATION
Since 2011, intense fighting in Syria has forcibly displaced more people than any other country. More than half of the country’s population remains displaced (in or outside Syria), are missing, or need assistance.
In December 2024, Syria experienced the most severe escalation of conflict in the past eight years, entering a transitional period, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad. Over one million people have fled their homes, often with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Even before the current escalation, 16.7 million Syrians needed humanitarian aid—the number keeps rising.
Millions of Syrians remain registered refugees in neighbouring countries such as Lebanon, Türkiye and Jordan. Most Syrian refugees in the region live in urban areas among locals, usually in poor neighbourhoods where they can afford the rent, adding to the already stretched infrastructures and putting more pressure on basic resources such as health and education. Having left everything behind, Syrian refugees are struggling to meet the most basic needs.
A CARE gender analysis revealed that families are increasingly taking desperate measures, including early marriage and child labour, to stay alive.
CARE condemns in the strongest terms attacks on civilians. Millions of people continue to live under siege and in hard-to-reach areas, with little access to basic needs. CARE with its partners is calling on all governments to go beyond the words of sympathy and to act concretely.
HOW WE ARE RESPONDING
CARE is on the ground, responding to the urgent needs of newly displaced people and those choosing to return despite the protection risks that still remain.
Addressing immediate needs: CARE will deliver ready-to-eat food baskets, food rations, safe water, essential sanitation and hygiene support, and emergency shelter and supplies to help families endure harsh winter conditions.
Helping people recover: As the situation evolves, CARE will adapt its response to meet essential needs and sustained access to safe water and hygiene supplies.
Building on our presence: CARE has been present in Syria since 2013. CARE and our partners operate across the three Syrian hubs supporting vulnerable populations with emergency response, water, sanitation, hygiene, shelter, food, protection, sexual and reproductive health, and economic recovery.
Working in partnership: CARE implements programs both directly and in collaboration with partners. With a proven track record of leading large-scale, locally-led, high-impact programing, CARE brings exceptional capacity and expertise to crisis management and longer-term recovery and resilience.
CARE is impartial and neutral, we do not take sides. We provide assistance based on need alone.
