Funding shortage leaves Syrian refugees without vital support: report

A shortage of funds is hampering humanitarian and developmental assistance efforts to meet the needs of 3.9 million refugees who have fled the conflict in Syria, according to a report released Thursday.

The 3RP Regional Progress Report, contributed by UN agencies and NGOs, noted that as a result of the funding shortfall, 1.6 million refugees have had their food assistance reduced this year.

Some 86 percent of urban refugees in Jordan live below the poverty line of 3.2 U.S. dollars per day, while 45 per cent of refugees in Lebanon live in sub-standard shelters.

It warned if more funds are not forthcoming soon, up to 130,000 vulnerable families will not be provided with cash assistance to help them meet their basic needs and vulnerable people will stop receiving their monthly food vouchers altogether. Up to 1.7 million people may face winter this year without fuel, shelter, insulation, blankets or warm clothes.

"This massive crisis requires far more solidarity and responsibility-sharing from the international community than what we have seen so far," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres. "But instead, we are so dangerously low on funding that we risk not being able to meet even the most basic survival needs of millions of people over the coming six months."

The Syria crisis has also had major social and economic impacts on host countries, which remain at the forefront of the crisis and are going through political, economic, social and security instabilities. Well into its fifth year, the Syria crisis is also having an impact on development and global security.

"Lessons learned over the past four years of response to the Syria crisis show beyond doubt the importance of integrated humanitarian and development approaches based on building resilience," UNDP administrator Helen Clark said.

The report noted that while pressures on host countries continue to grow, it is increasingly difficult for Syrians to find safety, including by seeking asylum. These difficulties have resulted in an increase in the number of Syrians seeking safety and refuge beyond the region, including by taking often dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean to try and reach Europe.

The report called on the international community to share more of the burden with the host countries through the timely provision of funding and by providing solutions like additional resettlement opportunities and other forms of humanitarian admission for Syrian refugees. Endit