Summary:
- A number of developments are notable in Syria. These include the repeal of the Caesar Act and over 10 billion US dollars (USD) in investment commitments by public and private partners in Qatar, the USA, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, China, and several EU countries Italy among them. These commitments are mainly for the reconstruction of energy, transportation, industrial, and commercial infrastructure. The country also witnessed USD 6.5 billion in in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance pledges by international donors at the Brussels summit, the incremental re-establishment of trade ties with Jordan and Lebanon, and the gradual return of Syria to international financial systems. Yet, the economic benefits of these developments have not yet translated into household-level stability. While infrastructure and state services are improving, low wages and Syria’s high cost of living mean that the most vulnerable continue to require assistance to meet their basic needs.
- In Syria, electricity supply improved somewhat in the second half of 2025, particularly in major cities, but access remains uneven and many areas are still experiencing intermittent service and must rely on alternative power sources In addition, higher tariffs put pressure on households and contribute to higher food and commodity prices by raising storage, refrigeration, and transport costs.
- In Lebanon and Jordan, essential services remain under pressure, as documentation and fee policies limit access to education, and reduced subsidies in Lebanon limit healthcare access.
- Labor market dynamics in Lebanon and Jordan continue to pose challenges, through increased enforcement of legal documentation requirements and limitations on informal foreign labor.
- Heavy precipitation and cold temperatures have intensified needs for vulnerable host communities and displaced populations as severe funding shortfalls hamper wintertime assistance across Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. These resource deficits, coupled with damaged and/or degraded infrastructure and energy insecurity, heighten the risk of negative coping mechanisms.
