Syria | �ǿմ�ý

Syria remains extremely fragile. Years of conflict, economic collapse and repeated shocks have left only 18 per cent of the population food secure. More than 7 million people already face acute food insecurity, and rising prices, climatic shocks - drought, floods, and limited access to jobs and services continue to deepen hunger and poverty.

Today, approximately 5.54 million people remain internally displaced. Since December 2024, over 1.6 million returnees have arrived in Syria. people have returned to their areas of origin. However, many are returning to communities that have been devastated by years of conflict, where homes and infrastructure have been destroyed, livelihoods remain limited, and access to basic services is severely constrained.

As the largest humanitarian actor in Syria, �ǿմ�ý continues to respond to urgent needs while supporting recovery and helping communities rebuild their resilience.

What the �ǿմ�ý is doing in Syria

Emergency food assistance: �ǿմ�ý continues to provide life-saving food and cash assistance to families struggling with rising prices, displacement, and economic hardship. In 2026, �ǿմ�ý reached millions of people through emergency food assistance, prioritising those in highest food insecurity areas and those most in need. Assistance helps vulnerable families meet their immediate food needs, reduce harmful coping strategies, and ease pressure on overstretched communities and local markets.
Nutrition support: �ǿմ�ý is supporting pregnant and breastfeeding women, young children, and vulnerable families with nutrition assistance to help prevent and treat malnutrition. Through targeted nutrition programmes, �ǿմ�ý provides specialised nutritious foods and strengthens access to essential services, helping families protect their health and wellbeing following years of a prolonged crisis.
Food systems support: �ǿմ�ý works with national and local partners to strengthen Syria��s food system by supporting wheat, flour and food supply chains, helping improve food security, support local markets, and build long-term resilience. As part of these efforts, �ǿմ�ý supplied fortified wheat flour to bakeries across the country, helping approximately four million people access affordable bread, a daily staple for Syrian families. The programme also supported local bakeries and livelihoods. However, due to critical funding shortfalls, the bread programme is currently on hold, reducing access to affordable food and increasing pressure on vulnerable households.
Livelihoods and agriculture: �ǿմ�ý is helping communities rebuild livelihoods and strengthen resilience through support to agriculture, irrigation systems, and local markets. Farmers receive seeds, fertilisers, and technical support to restore food production, while rehabilitation projects create temporary employment opportunities and improve access to essential infrastructure.
Social protection: �ǿմ�ý is supporting the development of national social protection systems to help vulnerable families access assistance more sustainably. Working with government partners, �ǿմ�ý is expanding nutrition-sensitive programmes and strengthening systems that can better respond to future shocks and economic pressures.
Emergency preparedness and displacement response: �ǿմ�ý is supporting people affected by displacement, floods, and cross-border movements through emergency food assistance and preparedness activities. This includes distributing ready-to-eat food at border crossings, pre-positioning supplies, and coordinating with humanitarian partners to support newly arrived and displaced families.
School meals: �ǿմ�ý is working with the Ministry of Education and relevant national institutions to redesign and reimagine the school meals programme to better meet the needs of children and their families across Syria. Building on lessons learned and evolving needs, the programme aims to support children��s nutrition, learning, attendance, and wellbeing, while strengthening national systems and local ownership. Through this collaborative approach, �ǿմ�ý and its government partners are exploring sustainable solutions that help create a more supportive learning environment for children and contribute to their healthy growth, development, and future opportunities.