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Shaping policy for development

An overview of Lagoro IDP camp in Kitgum District, northern Uganda, 20 May 2007. Manoocher Deghati/IRIN
Fri, 11/16/2012 - 07:04 -- Anonymous (not verified)
Homs Faces Renewed Round of Shelling
Homs Faces Renewed Round of Shelling

Smoke billows skyward as homes and buildings are shelled in the city of Homs, Syria.
License: Creative Commons
Credit: UN Photo/David Manyua
Source: UN Multimedia

ODI On... The crisis in Syria

18 October 2012

Responding to the need for deliberation and coordination amongst humanitarian actors in Syria and neighbouring countries, HPG convened two high level roundtables. These brought together UN agencies, NGOs, donor representatives, and national and diaspora humanitarian groups to discuss the deepening political and humanitarian crisis, consider its impact on civilians caught up in the conflict and reflect on the response of the international and national community.

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Overview
Outputs
Conflict in Syria
Conflict in Syria

A Free Syrian Army fighter fires an anti-aircraft gun as a Syrian Air Force fighter bomber fires rockets during an air strike in the village of Tel Rafat, some 37 km (23 miles) north of Aleppo, August 9, 2012. Syrian troops and rebels fought over the country's biggest city Aleppo as President Bashar al-Assad's key foreign backer Iran gathered ministers from like-minded states for talks on Thursday about how to end the conflict.
License: Creative Commons
Credit: Abdullatif Anis
Source: Flickr

Syria crisis: an update on the humanitarian response

Event - Round-table - 31 August 2012 14:00 - 16:00 (GMT+00)

This event was convened to examine the humanitarian implications of the war in Syria. By August 2012 the conflict had spread to the two major cities, Damascus and Aleppo displacing thousands and triggering the flight of hundreds of thousands of refugees. 

Discussion at this second roundtable on Syria focused on the humanitarian response within Syria and regionally by bringing together representatives of the leading agencies in Damascus, Amman, Rome and London. The discussion provided an opportunity for humanitarian partners to explore how best to respond to the needs of all those caught up in the conflict. 

The first roundtable reflected on the current response of the international community and consider its impact on civilians caught up in the conflict.

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UN Observer Group Makes Rounds in Homs, Syria on 21 April 2012
UN Observer Group Makes Rounds in Homs, Syria on 21 April 2012

Crowds of locals surround the recently-dispatched UN monitoring team as they walk through the streets of Homs, Syria. Pursuant to an authorization by the Security Council, the team of six unarmed observers were deployed to Syria on 16 April, tasked with reporting on the cessation of violence between Government and opposition forces.
License: Creative Commons
Credit: UN Photo/Neeraj Singh
Source: UN multimedia

Syria crisis: the humanitarian response

Event - Round-table - 15 June 2012 11:00 - 13:00 (GMT+01 (BST))

This closed-door roundtable on the Syria crisis brought together leading humanitarian aid agencies and senior figures with direct experience of humanitarian work in the country. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the response of the international community and consider its impact on the civilian population. 

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Sanctuary in the city? Urban displacement and vulnerability in Damascus - A desk study

Publication - Discussion papers - 1 December 2011
HPG Working Papers
Simone Haysom and Sara Pavanello
This study focuses on urbanisation, displacement and vulnerability in the Syrian capital, Damascus. Research aims to consider the reality of life for displaced populations in urban areas, investigate the policy and operational challenges that confront national and international stakeholders when responding to the needs of urban internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees, and offer recommendations for strengthening support to these populations.
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Overview

As conflict in Syria continues without signs of abating the humanitarian consequences of the 20-month long crisis has rapidly spilled over into neighbouring countries. With 1.2 million internally displaced people, over 340,000 refugees and countless obstacles and challenges to humanitarian action, the humanitarian community faces the daunting task of addressing mounting humanitarian needs in an increasingly restrictive and dangerous environment.

Responding to the need for deliberation and coordination amongst humanitarian actors in Syria and neighbouring countries, HPG convened two high level roundtables.  These brought together UN agencies, NGOs, donor representatives, and national and diaspora humanitarian groups to discuss the deepening political and humanitarian crisis, consider its impact on civilians caught up in the conflict and reflect on the response of the international and national community.

The first roundtable was held in the wake of the suspension of the UN mission in Syria, reports of another massacre in Qubair and a warning issued by former international envoy Kofi Annan that Syria was drifting toward civil war. Humanitarian actors on the ground shed light on the challenges confronting aid agencies and the moral dilemmas the humanitarian community continue to face in efforts to address the escalating humanitarian needs in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Following ICRC’s declaration that the conflict in Syria should be treated as a civil war, the humanitarian situation continued to deteriorate, displacing over 230,000 Syrians to neighbouring countries by the end of August. HPG convened a second roundtable to explore the humanitarian response within Syria and consider the regional humanitarian dimensions of the conflict. The discussion provided an opportunity for humanitarian partners to discuss the evolving humanitarian situation and explore how best to respond to the needs of all those caught up in the conflict. 

Summary notes of the discussions are available here: roundtable 1; roundtable 2

Humanitarian Policy Group