During 2016, refugees from Syria in the region and communities hosting them continued to require protection and assistance, with complex and evolving needs. While the Syrian refugee population grew at a slower pace than in previous years during 2016, the over 4.9 million Syrian refugees hosted by Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt as at the end of 2016 still represents a massive humanitarian and development crisis for the region. These host governments have shown tremendous generosity, and are the first and most important responders to the crisis.