2014 Syrian Arab Republic Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP)

SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE RESPONSE PLAN 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As the crisis continues humanitarian needs inside Syria are increasing across all sectors while affected populations
are now experiencing the worst winter in many years. The result of the on-going crisis is further massive
population displacement and growing humanitarian needs. The UN estimates that 6.5 million people are internally
displaced and a total of 9.3 million 1 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, 46% of whom are children 2 .
These figures include at least 270,000 of the 540,000 registered Palestine refugees who have also been displaced
within Syria 3 . Negative impacts on food security are witnessed in several parts of the country, and this combined
with deteriorating underlying factors such as water, sanitation and healthcare services has contributed to a growing
risk of malnutrition among women and children. There are critical gaps in essential healthcare delivery particularly
in trauma care, primary healthcare and reproductive healthcare services. The decreasing availability of and access
to safe water needs to be urgently addressed in conjunction with poor sanitation and hygiene practices which can
increase the risk of an outbreak in communicable diseases. Psychosocial distress and mental health concerns, the
erosion of livelihoods, asset losses, and deteriorating coping mechanisms urgently need to be addressed. The
shortage of adequate and dignified shelter and basic household items remains a major concern, as is hindered
access to education, falling enrolment rates and the availability of safe learning spaces.
The SHARP remains complementary to government led humanitarian response and other appeal frameworks such
as those issued by the ICRC and IFRC. The humanitarian response under this plan will be implemented in full
coordination with the Government of Syria and in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182
(“Strengthening of the Coordination of Humanitarian Emergency Assistance of the United Nations”) and the
Guiding Principles in its Annex. Humanitarian partners renew their commitment to deliver humanitarian aid with full
respect to the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic. This plan also underscores the need to ensure the timely
delivery of humanitarian assistance.
The plan fully respects the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic. It also recognises the state‟s responsibility to
enhance the protection of all affected people, in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant norms and principles of
international law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
In cooperation with the Government of Syria, humanitarian actors, i.e. United Nations (UN) agencies, the
International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs)
registered in Syria, are launching the 2014 Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP) for the period
from 1 January to 31 December 2014, in order to address the continuing increase in large-scale humanitarian
needs throughout all 14 governorates.
There have been significant improvements in aid delivery efforts including inter-agency convoys and the
operationalisation of field hubs which have boosted field programing. Yet challenges of insecurity and limited
partners remain. The UN will continue working with Syrian partners and humanitarian actors to deliver larger
amounts of humanitarian assistance with greater speed and efficiency.
Protection objectives are pursued through activities across all sectors of the humanitarian response. In the context
of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and in particular for the 2014 SHARP, this refers to the protection of all affected
civilians including men, women, and children, and other groups with specific needs from violence, exploitation,
discrimination, abuse and neglect. In the course of implementing protection activities, the UN will work in
partnership with the government to empower state institutions to uphold humanitarian norms and principles. The
UN will also continue to advocate for greater respect towards international humanitarian law and international
human rights law, with relevant stakeholders. The scope of beneficiaries covered by protection and community
services sector is: wide-ranging, encompassing all civilians affected or threatened by the crisis; and targeted,
focusing on groups with specific needs, particularly internally displaced people (IDPs), Palestine refugees, migrant
workers, women at risk, adolescents and children, people with disabilities and the elderly.
For purposes of the 2014 SHARP, gender-based violence (GBV) means the prevention and response to violence
against women, violence against girls and violence against boys.
1 The Government of Syria estimates that 5.7 million people are internally displaced.
2 The planning figures derive from and are triangulated from a range of sources
32 For The simplicity, planning figures Palestine derive refugees from and displaced are triangulated within Syria from will a be range included of sources under the term “internally displaced persons”
3 For simplicity, Palestine refugees displaced within Syria will be included under the term “internally displaced persons”
3