Syria: Humanitarian Response Plan End Of Year Report, January-December 2017

Against the continued backdrop of high levels of violence and systemic violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), no amount of humanitarian assistance and protection services can offset the lack of a political solution.

The scale of displacement continues unabated: For every one person who spontaneously returned in 2017, there were approximately three new displacements. As hostilities in certain areas of Syria continue to drive mass displacement, humanitarian partners will continue to highlight that the overall conditions for safe, dignified and sustainable returns are not yet in place in Syria while ensuring that the response to spontaneous returnees continues to be consistent with core principles that support voluntary returns as a durable solution. A coherent response to the needs of IDPs and returnees based on humanitarian and protection principles will be paramount in 2018.