Under the framework of a ceasefire text that grants Israel the right to act against "planned, imminent or ongoing attacks," the IDF has weaponized this clause to physically enforce this buffer.
Between 1 February and 31 March 2026, the Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 494 Palestinians killed and at least 489 injured in the Gaza Strip, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire in place since 10 October 2025.
As of 31 December, over 1.3 million Syrians have returned back home since December 2024, with more than 3.7 million registered Syrian refugees continuing to reside in host countries in the region.
As the Syrian Arab Republic (hereafter referred to as Syria) enters a new year, the impact of the shift in power over a year ago (8 December 2024) continues to shape the country.
The cost of living continues to outpace income growth; despite policy measures seeking to enhance purchasing power, current wage levels meet only around one‑third of basic household needs.
The UN estimates that in 2026, 16.5 million people across Syria need humanitarian assistance. Since the political transition in December 2024 until the end of January 2026, over 1.3 million Syrians have returned home from countries of asylum.
Following the opening of new prospects for voluntary returns to Syria at the end of 2024, the General Security Office (GSO) waived administrative fines and the re-entry ban for refugees returning to Syria as of 1 July 2025, and UNHCR launched its facilitated Voluntary Return (VolRep) programme.
After more than a decade of displacement, around 3 million displaced Syrians inside and outside the country were able to return home. In 2025 alone, around 179,000 people returned to Syria from Jordan and around 500,000 from Lebanon.
Since 6 January, clashes in Aleppo Governorate have continued between government forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). As of 10 January, the Aleppo Health Directorate reported a total of 23 deaths and 104 injuries.
To support efforts toward durable solutions, this report examines the situation in communities where returns are already taking place, shedding light on the conditions, needs, and risks confronting returnees.
Children in the Syrian Arab Republic continue to face significant vulnerabilities after 14 years of conflict. Despite renewed engagement following the change in authorities in late 2024, humanitarian needs are rising due to large-scale returns, economic decline, climate shocks and damaged infrastructure.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) today released new geospatial analysis revealing extensive and worsening damage to the agricultural sector in the Gaza Strip.
UNHCR continues to provide protection and assistance to refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, returnees, stateless people, and host communities based on identified needs, vulnerabilities and available resources.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) welcomes the announcement of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas as a vital and long-overdue step that will bring hope and relief to the more than two million Palestinians who have endured two years of Israel’s escalated bombardment, forced displacement, starvation, and siege.
On Wednesday night, unidentified armed individuals riding two motorcycles opened fire on residents of Annaz village, located in Wadi al-Nasara, west of Homs. The attack killed three young men and left several others injured, all belonging to the local Christian community.
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.
The fall of the Assad government on 8 December 2024 marked a significant turning point in Syria’s political and humanitarian trajectory. This turn of events presents an opportunity to end one of the largest displacement crises in the world including for millions of internally displaced Syrians.
On 7 August 2025, Lebanon’s cabinet formally endorsed the objectives of a U.S.-backed proposal aimed at securing “state exclusivity on weapon ownership”, effectively a pathway to disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year.
