Syrian Arab Republic: 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (April 2026)

Introduction

The Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) is designed to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance and protection through better preparation, prioritising, steering and monitoring the collective response through informed decision-making. Humanitarian activities under the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) are coordinated at the field level and benefit from an overarching effort to harmonise assistance across response areas.1 The primary objective of the HNRP is to coordinate the timely and adequate delivery of humanitarian assistance to people in need in accordance with international law, including the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/46/182 and the UN Charter.2 The Syria HNRP is developed by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) on behalf of humanitarian partners3 working in Syria, under the leadership of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria (HC), with support from the humanitarian sectors and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The HNRP is collectively prepared by all partners and endorsed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), in line with General Assembly Resolution A/RES/46/182. Affected people were consulted during the humanitarian needs’ identification and planning processes.

Activities under the HNRP will be carried out in consultation and coordination with Syrian state institutions in accordance with the Charter of the UN, General Assembly resolution 46/182 and relevant Security Council resolutions. The HNRP’s activities are governed by the framework of agreements between the Syrian State and UN agencies, funds, and programmes. Humanitarian organizations working under the HNRP, namely: UN agencies, funds and programmes, the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement and humanitarian international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), remain committed to providing needs-based humanitarian assistance, in line with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and to providing assistance without discrimination against people in need. In this capacity, they are protected under international law.

The 2026 HNRP will complement the humanitarian response undertaken by the Government of Syria, as well as efforts of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and other humanitarian actors. Other international organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) are contributing to meet the needs of affected people. Organizations participating in the HNRP acknowledge that it is first through the efforts of the Syrian people, through relevant institutions at both central and local level, and national (NGOs) that the basic needs of the affected population are met. In accordance with international law, the HCT renews its commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance to people affected by the crisis in Syria, and to implement the response plan with full respect to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of the Syrian Arab Republic and in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 46/182.