Response to Displacement from Lebanon to Syria

An overview

Since 23 September, thousands of people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon, fleeing the escalation of hostilities. It is estimated that around 71 per cent are Syrians and 29 per cent are Lebanese nationals. Among the new arrivals, 60 per cent are under the age of 18, along others with special needs, including those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

The Syrian authorities have kept an open-border policy for people to enter from Lebanon. UNHCR is present at the four main Syrian official border crossing points – including Jdaidet Yabous in Rural Damascus; Joussieh, Daboussieh and Jesr Al Qmar in Homs; and Al Arida in Tartous – alongside other UN partners, as well as national and international NGOs to support those who cross. UNHCR supports new arrivals with relief items including hygiene kits, blankets, food items and water. Other essential services such as legal assistance, medical support and nutrition screening are also being provided.

Since the influx began, our protection teams have been present at the official crossings to provide vital assistance, as well as referrals to services at the destinations where new arrivals are being hosted.

The influx has placed immense pressure on the local communities in Syria where new arrivals are residing either with relatives, in hosting centres or in rented accommodations.

Entering its fourteenth year in 2024, the Syria crisis has remained one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Its protracted nature continues to affect millions of lives, as the security situation in the country continues to be unpredictable. The socioeconomic conditions are becoming increasingly dire, and many public infrastructures remain unattended. Despite limited resources available, the Government of Syria and local Syrian communities extend support to those fleeing Lebanon.

UNHCR Response

Core relief items: UNHCR and its partners, including the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, are present at the official border crossings with Lebanon, offering support to new arrivals. Since September 23, UNHCR has distributed relief items such as blankets, winter clothes, hygiene kits, as well as food and water to over 100,000 persons who crossed from Lebanon into Syria.

Health Assistance: Access to primary and emergency health services is crucial for addressing immediate health concerns among new arrivals. UNHCR and its partner, SARC, are providing medical services and psychosocial support at the crossing points, ensuring that individuals receive the necessary care. Many of those crossing into Syria are in dire conditions, with some bearing injuries and traumas from the long journey as well as due to the hostilities in Lebanon.

Legal Support: At the border crossing points, UNHCR and legal partners, SARC and Syria Trust, have established a help desk to provide immediate legal assistance to new arrivals, and carry out referrals for support at the borders. Assistance offered includes civil documentation, civil event registries (such as new births and marriages), border entry facilitation, as well as referrals to legal aid at the points of destination, and counselling of other legal issues. Since the influx began, at least 15,000 new arrivals have benefited from legal aid at the borders.

Transport Assistance: UNHCR through its partner SARC is providing free transportation at the border crossing points to support extremely vulnerable families in reaching their intended destinations inside Syria. Since 4 October, following airstrikes that hit an area between the Masnaa crossing point (Lebanon) and Jdaidet Yabous in Rural Damascus, transportation has also been provided to families from the crater area. Since the onset of the influx, some 32,000 new arrivals were provided with transportation to help them reach Jdaidet Yabous, and to their final destinations inside Syria.

At the Destinations: The majority of new arrivals are being hosted either by their relatives or the local communities, while Lebanese refugees who do not have alternative accommodation means are staying in hosting centres established by the local authorities.

UNHCR and partners, through outreach volunteers and mobile teams, provide diverse support for the new arrivals based on their needs identified through monitoring and refer them to the nearest community centres in their host communities.

New arrivals can benefit from over 110 UNHCR-supported community centres in all 14 Syrian governorates. The community centres are the “one-stop-shop” providing protection interventions that include, but are not limited to, psychosocial support (PSS), gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, child protection case management, and legal aid, among others. Community centres have extended their opening hours to remain open during the weekends to respond to the increase in the number of new arrivals.

Inter-Agency Emergency Appeal

UNHCR Syria’s total financial requirement for the Emergency Response to the Influx from Lebanon to Syria is USD 124.9 million from October 2024 to March 2025.

UNHCR’s requirement is part of the Inter-Agency Emergency Appeal for the Influx from Lebanon to Syria, requesting a total amount of USD 324 million.

The maximum target population of UNHCR is 480,000 people, subject to the rapidly changing situation. The number of beneficiaries includes 240,000 new arrivals who are in need of medium to long-term support, as well as up to 80,000 vulnerable people in the local communities affected by the influx.

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