FOREWORD
It’s been twelve months since we wrote our last foreword to the 3RP. Twelve more months added to the protracted situation of the over 6.8 million Syrian refugees hosted in the sub-region and 6.1 million affected host community members. Twelve more months in which new crises and shocks are putting solutions further out of reach for Syrian refugees and making life harder for their host communities.
The socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, fewer livelihoods and economic opportunities, high inflation, currency devaluation, high unemployment and increased social tensions in some countries, climate change, the ripple effects of the war in Ukraine including on food and fuel prices and dwindling levels of aid financing are all adding to a grim outlook across the region.
Assessments continue to show clearly how far conditions have deteriorated in recent years. For example, in Lebanon, 750,000 Syrian refugees or close to 90 per cent of the refugee population could not meet their basic survival needs in 2021, an increase from 55 per cent since 2019, with all communities across the country impacted by the unprecedented economic crisis. In Jordan, around 430,000 refugees or 65 per cent of the refugee population were forced into debt in 2021 with debt equally rising among vulnerable host communities, while in Türkiye more than 3.2 million Syrian refugees or 90 per cent have been unable to cover their monthly expenses and basic needs in 2022. The limited capacity or lack of access to social safety nets in some 3RP countries has resulted in more families falling below the poverty line and having to resort to harmful coping strategies including meal reduction, and child labour and marriage.
Now twelve years into the crisis, and with no political solution in Syria on the horizon, it is vital to carefully consider where we go from here in our collective response. An independent evaluation of the 3RP since its inception in 2015 was released in mid-2022, confirming the added value of this unique model of strategic coordination, planning, advocacy, fundraising and programming. To ensure more effective engagement of partners and supporters at all levels in the 3RP, we are clarifying the conceptual framework and operational model of the platform, sharpening our focus on work that will build resilience for all, promote social inclusion, and achieve clear results advancing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus (HDPN). We will redouble our efforts in pursuit of the four strategic directions that guide our overall approach: protecting people, supporting durable solutions, contributing to dignified lives, and enhancing local and national capacities.
We are reinvigorating the linkages between the 3RP and broader processes such as the upcoming 2023 Global Refugee Forum – a reminder that the 3RP’s innovative humanitariandevelopment approach was itself an inspiration for the Global Compact on Refugees. At the same time, we are reinforcing our commitment from the regional level to support the nationally led country response plans which, through a coordinated approach at all levels, are delivering tangible support to refugees and host communities on the ground. In 2022 for example, 3RP partners supported 5.7 million people with protection services, reached over 3.5 million people with food and unconditional cash assistance, and trained over 235,000 staff of national public institutions including front line workers.
3RP partners will continue with our strong investments in supporting national systems while also seeking to directly reach 6.8 million Syrian refugees and 6.1 million affected host community members with assistance in 2023.
While the number of people we are targeting have greater needs and vulnerabilities than ever, funding to the 3RP has been falling in recent years. In 2022, we are likely to record the lowest level of funding since 2015.
Twelve years into this crisis, we invite our donors and supporters to join the 3RP partners in recommitting to doing all we can to build resilience and to advance durable solutions for refugees and host communities, and to strengthen and promote inclusion in the services on which they depend for dignified lives.