Syria’s war has been a humanitarian catastrophe, with serious consequences for its people, surrounding states, and others around the world. Around 500,000 people have died during the war and more than 13 million have fled their homes. Factions and forces have competed for control, triggering tensions—geographic, communal, social, religious, and ethnic—among Syrians. Since 2015, the U.S. Institute of Peace has helped local leaders engage in outcome-oriented dialogues to promote peace in their communities. USIP has also helped civil society organizations, informed policymakers, worked to reduce refugee-host tensions in states near Syria, and cooperated with proponents of peace

As the Syria crisis enters its tenth year, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict with 11.7 million people in urgent need of live-saving assistance. In 2020, 6.2 million Syrians have been internally displaced often several times, 5.6 million have fled as refugees primarily into neighbouring countries, and large parts of the country have been critically impacted by the conflict leaving thousands without adequate shelters.

Since the outbreak of the war, the country’s economy has been devastated by a paralysing drop in the Syrian currency leading to soaring prices of food, fuel, and other critical items. Food prices are 20 times higher than their pre-conflict levels, leaving an estimated 9.3 million people food insecure. Life remains extremely challenging for displaced people, returnees and host communities due to limited access to basic services and livelihood opportunities, increasing financial hardship and an eroding capacity to cope. All of which have only been exacerbated by the current COVID-19 pandemic.