REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
The majority of the refugee population (75 per cent) are women and children. Protection against sexual and gender-based violence and prevention and response services for child protection are key priorities. Humanitarian response partners continue to implement comprehensive mechanisms to prevent, identify and assist the most vulnerable and provide psychosocial support, referrals and follow-up.
Almost three quarters of refugees are living in host communities who are themselves struggling to make ends meet. It is vital that local services are maintained and supported by the humanitarian response to minimize the impact on local communities from accommodating the ongoing influx.
Over 33,000 Palestinian refugees who have fled to Lebanon from Syria and a further 5,000 to Jordan have approached UNRWA for assistance. UNRWA continues to provide material and psychosocial support including shelter, health care, education and cash to address vulnerabilities.
Underfunding continues to be a major constraint on scaling up the regional response and meeting urgent, growing needs. There is an urgent need to see the generous pledges made at the International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria on 30 January 2013 in Kuwait turned into concrete contributions.