Despite generous support from our donors, 50 per cent of UNICEF’s response remained unfunded in 2025. Urgent additional support is needed in 2026 to sustain and scale lifesaving services for the most vulnerable children.
In 2025, the MENA region faced overlapping crises including conflict, displacement, economic collapse, disease outbreaks, and climate shocks, placing children at risk and disrupting access to services.
As of early 2026, 16.5 million require assistance, while over 1.4 million refugees and 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned since December 2024.
As of 5 February, UNHCR estimates that 1,413,967 individuals have returned to Syria since 8 December 2024 while 1,712,744 internally displaced persons have returned home.
As of 27 November, 1,260,240 individuals have returned to Syria since 8 December while 1,950,090 internally displaced persons have returned to their areas of origin/selected destination in the same period.
As of 20 November, UNHCR estimates that 1,246,037 individuals have returned to Syria from other countries since 8 December 2024. As of 13 November, 1,944,762 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are estimated to have returned to their areas of origin, of whom 1,062,229 departed from IDP sites in northwest and northeast Syria.
As of 6 November, 1,208,802 Syrian individuals have crossed back to Syria from other countries since 8 December 2024. Most returnees are coming from Türkiye, followed by Lebanon and Jordan, with smaller numbers from Iraq, Egypt and beyond the region.
The Sudan crisis has become the world’s largest displacement and protection emergency. Since April 2023, some 14 million people have been forced to flee their homes, of whom nearly 12 million remain displaced —7.3 million within Sudan and over 4.2 million across borders into the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda
In September, the security situation in Darfur and Kordofan States remained highly volatile and unpredictable, marked by intensified military confrontations, drone strikes, aerial bombardments and increasing intercommunal tension, leading to widespread insecurity, civilian displacement and growing humanitarian needs.
As of 16 October, and since 8 December 2024, a total of 1,099,768 Syrian individuals have returned to Syria from other countries, while 1,880,432 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to areas of origin or selected locations in the country.
Since 8 December 2024, a total of 1,099,768 individuals have returned to Syria from other countries while 1,880,432 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have returned to areas of origin or selected locations.
Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan on 15 April 2023, Africa Region faced a large-scale humanitarian crisis marked by one of the most significant displacement movements in recent years. Millions of people fled the violence, crossing into Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
One million Syrians – 1,027,887 – have now returned home from neighbouring countries since the 8 December 2024. A milestone of hope – yet millions remain displaced and urgent support is needed to make returns sustainable.
The Sudan crisis has triggered the largest displacement and protection emergency in the world today. Over 14 million people have been forced to flee since April 2023, with 12 million remaining displaced, including over 3.2 million refugees and asylum-seekers who have crossed borders into the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, and Uganda as of mid-2025.
Despite urgent needs, 62 per cent of UNICEF’s response remains unfunded. Without timely support, the most vulnerable children risk missing access to critical, lifesaving services.
There are now 12.0 million forcibly displaced due to the outbreak of conflict in Sudan since April 2023, including 7.7 million internally and 4.1 million in neighbouring countries.
Latest data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) shows a 13% drop in the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sudan since January 2025, now standing at 10.1 million.
