Grant assistance to the Syrian Arab Republic -Exchange of Letters on the Emergency Response Plan for Displaced Persons (UNHCR Coordination)- (15 February 2024)

   On 15 February, in Geneva, a letter was exchanged between Mr. Filippo GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Ambassador OIKE Atsuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organisations in Geneva, on grant assistance to Syria of approximately five million USD (744.55 million yen) under the Emergency Response Plan for Displaced Persons in collaboration with UNHCR.

   Nearly 13 years after the outbreak of the Syrian crisis in March 2011, an estimated 16.7 million people in Syria are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, representing an increase of 1.4 million people year-on-year. Alongside the deteriorating humanitarian situation, Syria was also severely affected by the Türkiye-Syria Earthquake that occurred in February 2023, with its epicenter in south-eastern Türkiye. Since then, assistance from the international community has been　directed mainly to the affected areas, resulting in a backlog of humanitarian assistance to unaffected areas.

   This cooperation is expected to contribute to improving the humanitarian situation in the Hasakeh, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa governorates in north-eastern Syria by providing family tents to displaced camp residents affected by the Syrian crisis, thereby ensuring a safe living environment.