Country: Syrian Arab Republic Source: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Please refer to the attached files. Executive Summary – 2025 Protection Case Trends, UNRWA Syria In 2025, UNRWA recorded 1,727 protection cases affecting Palestine refugees across Syria, an 8% increase from 2024. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted, representing 82% of all cases. Despite strengthened reporting systems and expanded frontline capacity, overall caseloads remain significantly under‑reported relative to the approximately 420,000 Palestine refugees still inside Syria. Key Protection Trends Gender-Based Violence (GBV) accounted for the largest share of cases (48% / 834 cases), with psychological and emotional abuse remaining the most reported GBV concern (537 cases). General Protection (GP) cases rose sharply (466 cases, a 127% increase), driven by improved identification of psychological/emotional abuse and neglect, now the single fastest-growing protection concern. Child Protection (CP) cases slightly decreased to 427 cases (a 12% decline), though separated/unaccompanied children (182 cases) remain a major risk group. Geographical Concentration of Needs Protection risks continue to be highest in: Rural Damascus – 690 cases (49%), with major concentrations in Sayida Zeinab and other surrounding areas. South Area (Dera’a region) – consistently high caseloads (351 cases), despite a smaller refugee population and ongoing instability. Yarmouk refugee camp – a 231% increase in reporting, reflecting both heightened vulnerabilities among returning families and improved reporting. Emerging and High-Risk Case Patterns Forced/early marriage declined significantly (57 cases in 2025 vs. 152 in 2024) but remains deeply rooted and requires long‑term, multi-disciplinary support. Legal status and civil documentation barriers increased by 300%, highlighting growing administrative obstacles affecting children, women, and returnees. Complex cases requiring multi-programme intervention increased from 79 to 262 cases, a 231% rise, indicating increasing severity and multi-layered vulnerabilities. Programme Contributions and Service Response The UNRWA Health Programme remained the main entry point for detection and referrals (63% of all cases), particularly for GBV and mental health‑related concerns. UNRWA provided a spectrum of support services, with: 44% of services being psychosocial or MHPSS-related, 28% health/hospitalisation support, 15% social protection services, 11% education-related services. Why Support Remains Critical Protection needs among Palestine refugees in Syria are increasing in severity, even as resources shrink. Support is essential to: Sustain and scale PSS/MHPSS services, addressing the dominant trend of psychological/emotional abuse. Strengthen responses for complex and high-risk cases, including survivors of GBV, separated/unaccompanied children, and households facing multi-layered vulnerabilities. Enhance access to services in high‑need areas, particularly in the South and rural Damascus. Expand community‑based protection mechanisms to improve early detection and mitigate risks before they escalate. Support emergency cash-for-protection assistance, a critical lifeline for survivors and families requiring urgent, sustained assistance.