<b>Live updates: Follow the latest on </b><a href="https://are01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenationalnews.com%2Fnews%2Fmena%2F2024%2F12%2F06%2Flive-syria-homs-city-rebels-advance-damascus%2F&data=05%7C02%7CPdeHahn%40thenationalnews.com%7Cd4f4846f2a0a4bc26deb08dd1604385d%7Ce52b6fadc5234ad692ce73ed77e9b253%7C0%7C0%7C638690929588310580%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FcVTskgULQvWJwF1GosAKTuwY5byF8Fixz0wLG1isbY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank"><b>Syria</b></a> The crisis in Syria is now extending into its 14th year, with devastating consequences for millions of people. As of 2024, an estimated 16.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) says. The Syria situation remains one of the largest displacement crises in the world, with a 2025 projection of 7.2 million internally displaced people and 6.2 million refugees. Our latest <i>Chart of the Week</i> illustrates the top 10 host countries for Syrian refugees this year, nations that together host 95 per cent of all Syrian refugees worldwide, based on UNHCR data. Neighbouring countries such as <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/turkey/" target="_blank">Turkey</a>, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/lebanon/" target="_blank">Lebanon</a>, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/Jordan/" target="_blank">Jordan</a> and <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/Iraq/" target="_blank">Iraq</a>, as well as nearby <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/Egypt/" target="_blank">Egypt</a>, continue to play a critical role in providing refuge for millions of displaced Syrians, along with European nations such as Germany and Sweden. These countries are providing vital shelter and services to displaced populations. Turkey alone hosts more than 3 million refugees, making it the top host country for Syrians and illustrating its central role in the humanitarian response. Lebanon and Jordan also host significant numbers of refugees, despite economic challenges and constrained resources. This comes as some European nations recently announced a suspension of asylum applications for Syrians following the fall of the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/bashar-al-assad/" target="_blank">Assad</a> regime. Read more about decisions by countries such as <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/Germany/" target="_blank">Germany</a>, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/Sweden/" target="_blank">Sweden</a> and the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/" target="_blank">UK </a>to pause applications <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/2024/12/09/uk-and-european-nations-suspend-syrian-asylum-applications/" target="_blank">here</a>.
