Following the recent escalation of hostilities in Lebanon on 23 September, approximately 169,000 Syrian and 72,000 Lebanese nationals have crossed into Syria as of 7 October 2024. Around 53% of arrivals are women and girls and 16% are people with disabilities. Approximately 60% are under the age of 18.

UNFPA is responding by providing life-saving and essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services, support and information to the influx of Syrian and Lebanese people crossing the borders into Syria.

UNFPA is targeting affected people through integrated mobile GBV and SRH service points, providing psychological first aid and psychosocial support, family planning, antenatal and postnatal care, the treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), general medical consultations, and referrals to specialized health services, including emergency obstetric care.

UNFPA is supporting partner NGOs to operate a total of 12 SRH clinics, 11 women and girls’ safe spaces, and 26 integrated mobile teams which are providing services to affected populations.

There is an urgent need for sanitary and hygiene kits, especially winterized items. Distribution of sanitary and hygiene kits is taking place in parallel with the dissemination of information on available SRH and GBV services. To date, UNFPA has distributed 2,526 dignity kits and 1,170 packets of sanitary pads to women and girls crossing the border.