OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Published purpose

February 2014 - The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate as a result of the civil war in the country. The United Nations estimates that more than 130,000 people have been killed, with hundreds of thousands more wounded, due to the violence. Within Syria, some 9.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 6.5 million of whom are internally displaced. In addition, over 2.4 million Syrian refugees are registered and living in host countries in the region. Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the conflict and host countries are increasingly overstretched by the influx of affected 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. Activities include: (1) advocating for the protection of civilians; (2) strengthening inter-agency convoys to deliver timely assistance; (3) strengthening the capacity of local and international non-governmental organizations to effectively respond to humanitarian needs; and (4) facilitating timely assessments and provision of resources to support the humanitarian response.