Protecting and Supporting the Displaced in Syria: UNHCR Syria End of Year Report 2015

It is clear that the impact of the conflict in Syria has been far-reaching and has resulted in forced displacement, sudden destitution, crumbling infrastructures, and the breakup of families. The protection needs of the Syrian population are massive and UNHCR and partners face huge challenges in terms of access and outreach to meet even their most basic needs. In 2015, UNHCR reached more than 850,000 individuals though protection and community services interventions, including through capacity building of its partners. UNHCR has provided targeted material assistance, socio-economic and recreational activities, psychosocial support, legal aid, gender-based violence referral, child protection services, community based initiatives as well as awareness raising sessions on various issues, ranging from residency procedures to prevention of gender-based violence and early marriages in Syria. The collective efforts of Protection sector partners, which UNHCR coordinates as the sector lead agency, benefited more than 3.5 million internally displaced persons.