The humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic remains critical in 2026, with approximately 15.6 million people—representing over 60% of the population—requiring assistance [0][7]. The crisis is defined by massive displacement; while estimates of internally displaced persons (IDPs) range between 5.5 million and 7 million [0][7], HDX records 5,932,110 IDPs and 825 refugees [HDX]. The operational landscape has been further complicated by a Syrian government military operation launched in January 2026, which expanded control west and south of the Euphrates River, reducing the Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) territorial control from 27% to approximately 10% and disrupting governance and service delivery in the northeast [0][8].
Acute needs persist across food security, protection, and health sectors, exacerbated by environmental shocks such as heavy rainfall between mid-March and early April 2026, which caused widespread flooding in Aleppo, Idleb, Ar-Raqqa, Al-Hasakeh, and Deir-ez-Zor [0][8]. Despite a robust response infrastructure comprising 49 funding agencies, 35 implementing partners, 21 hospitals, 280 health centers, and 175 mobile medical units [0][15], a significant funding gap remains [0]. Only $14,617,167,569 of the required $25,256,139,007 has been funded, leaving the response at 57.9% of its necessary budget [0][HDX].
The security environment is volatile and varies by region. In the south, Quneitra and western Dar'a are treated as active Israeli operational zones, characterized by incursions into border villages, the establishment of temporary checkpoints, and searches [16]. While current operations have been non-kinetic, there is a persistent risk of escalation triggered by armed attacks on Israeli personnel or the perceived return of hostile networks [16]. In Northeast Syria, the operating environment is defined by persistent ISIS-related security concerns, with the potential for major detention breaches representing a primary structural risk [0][16]. Nationwide, explosive-remnant hazards remain a constant threat, requiring strict mine-awareness and route-confirmation protocols [0][16].
Health needs are diverse and acute. In Dar’a governorate, the health sector is monitoring scabies outbreaks [0][15]. To combat broader threats, an Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) plan is being implemented based on WASH risk assessments [0][13]. For Syrian refugees in Jordan, critical secondary care and dialysis services have been provided in the Zaatari and Azraq camps, with 36 kidney failure patients receiving 2,424 sessions over six months [0][1]. In Lebanon's Bekaa region, where 52,935 people were displaced at a peak in April, MSF has provided 13,722 medical consultations and partnered with the Libano-Français Hospital to ensure access to specialized maternity and emergency obstetrics care [0][3].
Food insecurity remains a critical concern, particularly in Northeast Syria, where IPC Phase 3 outcomes persist [0][6]. Household food access is constrained by price volatility, eroded purchasing power, and banknote shortages [6]. In response, the FAO is providing agricultural assistance to 11,072 herding households with animal feed and vegetable production packages to 4,500 farming households across Deir ez-Zor, Ar-Raqqa, and Al-Hasakeh [0][6].
Population movement remains fluid. Between December 2024 and August 2026, 210,308 Syrian refugees returned to Syria [5]. IOM records show 655,720 movements into the Syrian Arab Republic across four Lebanese border crossings as of August 10, 2026, though the Arida crossing faced a temporary closure starting August 6 [0][9][10]. Within the country, 2.19 million IDPs have returned since December 2024, with 84% of these returns concentrated in Idleb and Aleppo [11].
However, significant barriers to sustainable return persist. Housing, land, and property (HLP) issues—including destruction and occupation—are the primary barrier for 36.1% of those considering return [0][7]. Other structural limits include the active resistance of second-generation children born in Türkiye [0][7]. Furthermore, professional groups face occupational barriers, such as market collapse for traders and craftspeople, and low wages for teachers [7]. Protection needs also extend to children returning from Iraq and Syria, who often perceive mental health support as a punishment, requiring a slow, trust-based approach to psychological recovery [0][12].
The most critical trend is the significant shift in territorial control in Northeast Syria, where the SDF's control dropped from 27% to 10% following government military operations in early 2026 [0][8]. This has fundamentally altered service delivery and governance in the region [8]. Quantitatively, the crisis remains massive, with 15.6 million people in need and a funding shortfall of over $10 billion [0][HDX].
Another emerging trend is the shift in refugee arrivals from Lebanon, with the percentage of new arrivals dropping from 52% in May 2026 to 24% in July 2026 [11]. Additionally, there is a noted increase in the use of smugglers (rising from 80% in Q1 to 87% in Q2 2026) and foot travel through North Macedonia among those in transit [14].
A primary information gap exists regarding the specific districts in Deir-ez-Zor, Ar-Raqqa, and southern Al-Hasakeh that transitioned to government control, which hinders precise service planning [8]. There is also a lack of detailed data on the specific barriers facing widowed and welfare-dependent populations regarding their return [7].
Recommendations include: 1. Immediate mobilization of funding to close the 42.1% gap in the humanitarian response budget [0][HDX]. 2. Prioritization of the "Urgent Appeal for Multi-Sectoral Support for IDPs Displaced from As-Sweida in Dar'a Governorate" [0][15]. 3. Implementation of trauma-focused MHPSS capacity building for practitioners working with repatriated children to move beyond disciplinary perceptions of psychological care [2][12]. 4. Strict adherence to conflict-grade protocols and mine-awareness in the northeast and south due to ISIS threats and explosive-remnant hazards [16].
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