Strategic Programme Document – Syria

DRC received in 2007 accreditation from the Syrian government to provide assistance to Iraqi refugees and started operations in Syria in May 2008 by taking over and managing 8 community centres in Damascus in co-operation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and UNHCR. DRC engaged then in the Education sector and rehabilitated 7 primary and secondary schools in Damascus with the support of the Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNHCR.
The Syria programme has developed since then and DRC is now active in the sectors of Protection and Education. The DRC intervention is built upon the response to Iraqi displacement, which since 2007 has been the main axis of DRC intervention. Yet in keeping with an escalating conflict and rising displacement in Syria during the course of 2012, the target population of the intervention is increasingly conflict-affected. Between July to September 2012, when insecurity throughout the country deteriorated the most, the clients approaching the DRC CC for assistance and support reflected a 85 % / 15 % Syrian Displaced / Refugees target population. While DRC remains committed to responding to refugees under the present program agreement and develop, where possible, the most relevant response to them – from a social as well as legal perspective-, DRC will maintain simultaneously a strong focus on providing relevant support to displaced Syrians, which due to the conflict are in great need of assistance.