RAF surprisingly needs help as scared (6)
I believe the answer is:
afraid
'scared' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'raf surprisingly needs help' is the wordplay.
'surprisingly' is an anagram indicator (a surprising ordering of the letters).
'needs' says to put letters next to each other.
'help' becomes 'aid' (synonyms).
'raf' anagrammed gives 'afr'.
'afr'+'aid'='AFRAID'
'as' is the link.
(Other definitions for afraid that I've seen before include "Filled with apprehension" , "Alarmed, fearful" , "feeling scared" , "Filled with concern" , "Scared, apprehensive" .)