The 2026 HNRP targets only 8.6 of the 15.6 million Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance. The targeting has been strictly conducted based on the severity of needs with only those with the extreme (severity 4) and some portion of those with severe needs (severity 3). At least 7.3 million people with severe levels of need (severity 3), as well as 53,100 people in Intersectoral severity 2, will not be targeted under this HNRP. The reduction in targeting reflects prioritisation due to resource constraints rather than a structural decline in vulnerability. Millions with moderate or severe needs remain at risk of deterioration, particularly in economically fragile and high-return areas.
While the humanitarian community recognizes and remains committed to addressing the needs of all who require humanitarian assistance across the country, prioritisation has to be enforced due to major resource gaps/funding shortfalls across all sectors. In 2025 the HRP was only funded at 33.4 per cent while in 2024 it was funded at 37.5 per cent, limiting the capacity of the humanitarian community to respond at scale-on average only 3.82 million people out of the targeted 10.3 million were reached with humanitarian assistance per month across all sectors.
Immediate additional funding to the humanitarian response in Syria is required at this critical time. Without adequate funding, humanitarian partners will be unable to address the situation, and progress achieved thus far will be reversed.
In light of the evolving context, and particularly the accelerated efforts toward facilitating solutions for IDPs and refugee returnees, advancing recovery and reconstruction, including the development of the National Recovery Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), and the rollout of the government’s ‘No Camps in 2026’ policy initiative, and cognizant that many remaining challenges require long-term structural solutions beyond the scope of humanitarian response, the humanitarian community:
- Recognises and welcomes the milestone steps taken by the Government of Syria and the international community toward easing sanctions, liberalizing the economy, and supporting recovery and reconstruction.
- Underscores the urgent need to prioritise the restoration of essential basic services and livelihoods, the strengthening of social protection, the stabilization of the macroeconomy, and the building of governance and institutional capacity to enable phased reconstruction planning. Economic recovery and the restoration of systems and essential services are critical to improving the availability and quality of public services - particularly in education, health, nutrition, social protection, and WASH. The continued lack of essential services, limited livelihood opportunities, and the unaffordability of basic commodities not only destabilize the wider economy but are driving more people into poverty, increasing reliance on humanitarian assistance, heightening the use of harmful coping mechanisms, and raising the overall cost of response-impacts felt most acutely by women and children.
Sustained support for nationally led data systems will remain essential to inform advocacy, recovery alignment, and resource mobilization efforts.
Advocacy will reinforce engagement with authorities, development partners and donors for adequate and prioritised investment to sustain durable solutions and minimise dependency on crisis humanitarian assistance.