As the conflict enters its fourteenth year, humanitarian needs in Syria have escalated to unprecedented levels, with 16.7 million people requiring humanitarian assistance. Among them, more than 8 million are women and girls, including 4.1 million of reproductive age. Rates of acute malnutrition are also rising among pregnant and breastfeeding women as hunger knocks on the door for more than half the country, with more than 12.9 million people in need of food assistance.

Syria remains one of the largest displacement crises globally, with more than 12 million people forcibly displaced. More than 6.3 million refugees are hosted by neighbouring countries, including Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. Nearly half of the refugees are women and girls who face mounting risks of violence, exploitation and lack of access to essential services.

The rights of women and girls, including access to services that are critical to their health, well-being and lives, have been an unseen casualty of the conflict. Gender-based violence is pervasive, and child marriage and digital violence are on the rise. Discrimination and inequalities continue to limit women’s prospects, exposing them to increased risks of sexual exploitation and abuse. The large number of female-headed households are particularly vulnerable. The conflict has also crippled the health system. Around two-thirds of hospitals and half of primary care facilities are out of service, and there has been a massive exodus of health workers. Fifteen million people risk losing access to health and nutrition support due to funding shortages.

Communities in the north-west are still recovering from the impacts of the 2023 earthquakes, while a current influx of tens of thousands of Syrian returnees and Lebanese refugees fleeing escalating hostilities in Lebanon could place an additional strain on already overstretched basic services and infrastructure.