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Delivering a principled humanitarian response in Syria from Damascus is a continuous challenge. There are numerous barriers to engaging with and responding to the needs of conflict affected Syrians., This paper explores the lessons learned by the Norwegian Refugee Council and Oxfam in more than ten years of combined operational experience from Damascus which can inform and improve the overall aid response in Syria.

March 2016 marks five years of upheaval and conflict in Syria – conflict that has reduced lives to shadows and cities to rubble. The Syrian government and its allies, as well as armed opposition and extremist groups, bear the primary and direct responsibility for the horrific reality that Syria’s civilians face on this grim anniversary. They have targeted civilians, laid siege to cities and towns and denied access to life-saving assistance., This paper examines what the UN Security Council demands happen in Syria; the situation since March 2015, and significant actions by the Permanent Members of the UNSC. In the first months of 2016 and at time of drafting this paper, some progress has been made in securing greater humanitarian access to those in besieged areas and a cessation of hostilities in parts of the country which has resulted in a significant decrease in civilian casualties. These are important steps that should be recognised and built on, but they remain fragile and limited in the context of the overall deterioration experienced by civilians inside Syria over the last horrendous year of violence.

This briefing paper is the result of a joint effort by 12 national and international organizations operating in Greece. The aim is to explain the current situation for those stranded in Greece for over six months since the closure of the northern border and introduction of the European Union (EU) – Turkey deal., These events changed Greece from a transit country to a country hosting tens of thousands of displaced persons for a still undefined, yet long-term, period. The briefing and recommendations presented are based on programmatic assessments as well as daily work and interaction with the displaced throughout Greece. Our hope is that this briefing and our joint recommendations will be of use to all actors engaged in addressing the situation and improving the response for those in need of protection in Greece.

Conversations around returns and relocations of internally displaced people and refugees in South Sudan and the future of the UN Protection of Civilians sites are often framed by clear-cut distinctions between single push and pull factors. This framing – often based on perceptions of international actors of what internally displaced people or refugees do or should think – ignores the fact that decisions to stay or to move are made based on complex motivations, in contexts of high uncertainty and, especially for women, limited information., This report aims to bring the voices and experiences of South Sudanese women to the fore, exploring the motivations and intentions of returning and displaced women in the country. The report argues that current movement trends are complex, and returns are often open-ended and non-linear. Given these dynamics, and as women and girls face distinct threats during displacement and return, the report advocates for a more gender-sensitive and durable solutions approach to population movements in South Sudan.

It is one year since the introduction of Europe’s flawed migration policies to close borders along the Western Balkan route and return migrants and refugees to Turkey, leaving thousands stranded in Greece. This update provides an overview of the current situation in Greece, and sets out what eight national and international responding agencies see as the most urgent issues to address and the major concerns with Europe’s response to this crisis., This paper is an update to the October 2016 briefing More than Six Months Stranded – What Now?

One year ago, European states closed their borders along the Western Balkan route and EU leaders put in place the EU-Turkey Statement, a so-called temporary measure to stop irregular migration to Europe. Now EU leaders are declaring their approach a success., The International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and Oxfam are providing humanitarian response on the Greek islands and mainland, and as their experience clearly shows, the context on the ground is far more troubling and complex. Beyond the deeply concerning situation in Greece, the EU is looking to replicate the EU-Turkey Statement model elsewhere, and in so doing, risks setting a dangerous precedent for the rest of the world. The EU has a proud history of commitment to international law and human rights which has driven its policies for 60 years. This joint agency paper argues that now is the time for Europe to show global leadership on migration by adopting policies that uphold these values, rather than triggering a race to the bottom.

The 'Supporting Syria and the Region' conference held in London on 4 February 2016 agreed 'a comprehensive new approach on how to respond to this protracted crisis. The promises made in London have the potential to make a significant contribution to improving the lives of both refugee and vulnerable host communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey: the three countries hosting approximately 75 percent of refugees from Syria. However, the conference has failed to deliver with regard to the core issues of the protection of civilians inside Syria and of refugees in neighbouring countries., This joint agency report sets out what needs to be done to make the London commitments a reality - including making pledged funding available, clear plans for improving access to livelihoods for refugees and regulatory changes in host countries.

With no end to the conflict in Syria in sight, the four million people forced to flee the country have no foreseeable prospect of safe return. And as the impact of the crisis on neighbouring countries grows and aid dries up, the situation for these refugees is becoming increasingly dire., This briefing calls for a new approach by the international community, including Syria's neighbours; one which offers hope, safety and dignity to the millions of refugees, and gives them a chance to contribute to the societies and economies of their hosts.

In July 2018, the Government of Israel tightened restrictions on goods and materials entering and leaving Gaza, noting that the measures were in response to Hamas sending incendiary kites and balloons into Israel. All goods were banned from exiting and many vital materials banned from entering. These restrictions further tighten the blockade – in place for 12 years – which severely limits or prevents the entry and exit of materials to Gaza. Over half the population of Gaza lives under the poverty line, and one million Palestinians in Gaza don’t have enough food to feed their families., This joint agency briefing calls for: An immediate end to the blockade and opening crossings into and out of Gaza All parties to refrain from using civilians in Gaza as leverage for political gain The UN and the international community to support the lifting of restrictions and a long-term strategy for economic development in Gaza.

Thousands of Somali families were displaced to urban centres by the 2017 drought. Research by a group of NGOs indicates that they do not intend to return home anytime soon. It also shows how precarious and limited are the livelihood opportunities for displaced people in Somalia; how far people’s options are affected by gender; and how changing gender dynamics present further protection threats to both men and women. Comparing the findings for Somaliland with those for the rest of the country, the research underscores the importance of local dynamics for people’s opportunities and protection. Gaps were highlighted in the provision of basic services for women particularly., Local, state and federal authorities, donors, and humanitarian and development actors need to improve displaced people’s immediate access to safe, gender-sensitive basic services – and to develop plans for more durable solutions to displacement. As floods in April to June 2018 have forced more people to leave their homes, an immediate step up in the response is essential.

With a third of Somalia’s population in need of humanitarian aid, the country is clearly in severe crisis. Although the humanitarian statistics are better than in previous years, most aspects of everyday life for people fall far below acceptable living standards. 2.9 million Somalis are in humanitarian crisis 50,000 children are severely malnourished Women in Somalia face the second highest risk of maternal death in the world 1.1 million people are displaced within their own country Only 30% of the population has access to clean drinking water Fewer 1 in 4 people have access to adequate sanitation, Somalia presents a unique and challenging context where destabilizing factors like conflict and cyclical drought are a regular feature. While gains have been made, communities remain only one shock away from disaster. As we learned in 2011, failure to heed the warning signs of crisis in already fragile communities can lead to tragedy., The international community is in a position now to make a difference in Somalia – as long as funds are available and flexible. Action is urgently needed to address Somalia’s humanitarian and development needs.

Somali migrants around the world send approximately $1.3bn each year to friends and families at home – more than total humanitarian aid to Somalia. Of these remittances, more than £100m million comes from the United Kingdom., This briefing shows how banks and regulators are in danger of inadvertently undermining this lifeline and driving it underground, as the interpretation of legislation on money laundering and counter terrorism becomes tighter in UK and USA, and banks become more risk-averse. Plans by Barclays to close all UK Somali Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) will have an effect beyond the UK, as many MTOs based in Europe route money to Somalia through the UK., Somalia currently has no formal banking sector, and this corridor is the only official means of getting money into the country., See also Keeping the Lifeline Open: Remittances and markets in Somalia