OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Published purpose

September 2013 - The humanitarian situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated over the past year as a result of the civil war in the country. The United Nations estimates that 100,000 people have been killed, and hundreds of thousands more wounded, due to the violence. Within Syria, some 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 4.25 million of whom are internally displaced. In addition, more than 2.0 million Syrian refugees are living in host countries in the region. By the end of 2013, the United Nations estimates that 10 million people in Syria will need humanitarian assistance and a further 3.55 million refugees from Syria will have fled to host countries, where resources are increasingly overstretched by the influx of people needing assistance. With the support of DFATD and other donors, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates the international humanitarian response to the crisis in Syria. OCHA also advocates for improving the access of vulnerable people to humanitarian services and assistance. Project activities include: mobilizing and coordinating efforts among national and international organizations to provide effective humanitarian assistance; advocating for better access to humanitarian assistance; supporting a coordinated humanitarian response; and conducting assessments and producing reports that contribute to an evidence-based response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.