Protection Needs and Service Engagement of Displaced and Returnee Populations
This assessment aims to provide a robust evidence base on the protection needs, return intentions, and service access of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees across the Syrian Arab Republic. The primary objective is to inform strategic planning, protection-sensitive programming, and durable solutions by offering a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping return decisions, current vulnerabilities, and engagement with essential services.
The findings are intended to support humanitarian actors in aligning their interventions with the evolving needs of displaced and returning populations, while ensuring that protection and dignity remain at the center of the response. The survey was conducted in early July 2025 and covered all 14 governorates of the Syrian Arab Republic. A total of 4,000 households were interviewed, including approximately 2,500 IDP households and 1,500 returnee households. The sample was designed to be statistically representative of the national displaced population, estimated at 7.4 million IDPs and 1.4 million returnees in 2025. A stratified sampling approach was adopted, with proportional allocation based on recent population estimates and humanitarian presence. Multi-stage cluster sampling was applied to ensure wide geographic and demographic representation, including both IDPs inside the camps and IDPs out of the camps. In addition to ensuring population group representativeness, the gender of the head of household was integrated as a key consideration. Approximately 20% of surveyed households were female-headed, allowing for the analysis of gendered patterns of vulnerability, protection risks, and service access across both IDP and returnee groups.