Syria Joint Response 2022-2023 - lead agency The ongoing conflict, the regional economic malaise, international sanctions, political stalemate, droughts in combination with the Covid-19 health crisis have a significant impact on the needs in Syria in the coming years. Around 13.4 million people in Syria require some form of protection and humanitarian assistance. Out of these, 6.76 million Syrians are in severe need, 4.51 million in acute need and 1.48 million in catastrophic need. The design of this response is based upon three objectives:

1 Providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable people in need in Syria
2 Enhance the prevention and mitigation of protection risks and respond to the increasing protections needs in Syria.
3 Increase the resilience of affected communities by improving access to livelihoods opportunities and basic services. WASH
Key activities under WASH include strengthening/restoring solid waste management, hygiene promotion along  with distribution of hygiene kits, combined with hygiene and solid waste management awareness raising for families and ,communities.

Rehabilitation of WASH facilities in schools, water sources and water supply points will be carried out so people in need will have access to sufficient and safe water.

Food Security & Livelihoods

The interventions will include securing food sources through the rehabilitation of bakeries, provision of food vouchers and distribution of food parcels.

In addition, business/ vocational trainings and provision of grants/tools to assist in their livelihoods activities aim to rebuild livelihoods and/or create new livelihoods opportunities.

Cash

After 11 years of conflict, cash programing has become a major focus for most humanitarian actors in Syria. Cash assistance will be provided through a multi-purpose cash modality. People in need receive several months of cash transfers, with the aim of supporting households income to enable the purchase of food, medicines, fuel and paying rents. People will receive cash for protection, in particular to address protection concerns.

Health

Given the huge needs to provide health services, the Syria Joint Response will focus on primary healthcare. Different activities include: rehabilitation healthcare facilities, provision of equipment and medical supplies including medicines, provision of primary health care services including mental health and special services for people with physical disabilities. Mobile teams will provide primary healthcare including mental, psychosocial support and physiotherapy to the people in need in hard to reach areas.

Protection

Due to the prolonged crisis, evidence shows the increased needs for protection activities in many project locations. Syria Joint Response members together with their local partners, provide: mental health and psychosocial support services, gender-based violence and protection topics awareness sessions and events, gender-based violence case management, distributing dignity kits and provide solar lighting system in the main roads to provide safer living conditions for vulnerable groups, assistive devices for people with physical disabilities, provide inclusion and gender trainings for staff and child protection through psychosocial support service and case management.

Joint activities

In addition to program implementation the Syria Joint Response members with their local partners focus on equitable partnerships and age and gender sensitivity through many activities including studies under both themes to extract lessons and design long term action plans related to these themes.