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.
Conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate, unfolding a multi-layered public health emergency. Increasing numbers of deaths and injuries are being reported, with over 1,440 deaths and more than 18,700 injuries reported in Iran, and more than 886 deaths and 2105 injuries in Lebanon.
Middle East and North Africa offers a comprehensive, evidence-based analysis of one of the world’s most complex and dynamic mobility landscapes where labour migration, protracted displacement, environmental stressors and socioeconomic transitions converge.
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.
As of 15 May 2025, UNHCR estimates that over half a million – 501,126 – Syrians have crossed back to Syria via neighboring countries since 8 December 2024. This brings up the total of 861,966 Syrian individuals that have returned to Syria since the beginning of 2024.
As of 8 May 2025, UNHCR estimates that some 481,730 Syrians have crossed back to Syria via neighboring countries since 8 December 2024. This brings up the total of over 842,570 Syrian individuals that have returned to Syria since the beginning of 2024.
In 2024, SARD reached 292,866 individuals across northwest Syria and Türkiye’s Adıyaman Province. This report highlights the collective impact of our teams, partners, and donors over the past year—spanning the sectors of Shelter, Protection, Early Recovery, and more.
UNHCR is engaging with thousands of refugees in neighboring countries, often with daily contact through helplines, surveys, focus group discussions, and other communications channels, listening to their concerns, providing up-to-date information, and understanding their perceptions and intentions around return.
Over the past 14 years, more than 13 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes, and 90% of people inside Syria require some form of humanitarian assistance. The recent developments across Syria will impact millions of people’s lives both inside the country and within the region.
