Southern Idleb and northern Hama governorates, part of the last opposition-held territory in Syria, have seen a renewed escalation of conflict starting in the end of April.
The most recent escalation is one in a series to take place since the announcement of a demilitarised zone in the area in September 2018. Due to the intensity of conflict and the seizing of key opposition-held areas in Hama, the ongoing clashes could develop into the long-anticipated final offensive which is feared to spiral into one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of the 21st century.
Since the last week of April, shelling, airstrikes and ground-based conflict have intensified endangering the safety of already vulnerable people and leading to mass displacement in southern Idleb and northern Hama located in northwest Syria. Following the rapid deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the region, REACH carried out a rapid needs assessment to outline humanitarian needs, protection risks and expected levels of displacement driven by the violence.
The assessment confirmed the severe challenges residents and displaced populations are facing. The escalation of conflict is taking place in opposition-held territory, meaning that people have limited options in seeking safety from clashes. The capacity of camps to provide shelter has been strained and the situation has taken a serious toll on humanitarian access, leading to extreme shortages of much-needed aid.
“The renewed intensification in conflict has driven thousands of already vulnerable people from their homes to locations and areas where the capacity to accommodate new arrivals is extremely limited and the availability of basic services and food scarce,” REACH country coordinator for Syria, Nanki Chawla says.
REACH has been monitoring conditions and displacement in Idleb and northern Hama since May 2018 and has repeatedly reported severe humanitarian needs in the course of the year. The frequency of shelling and bombardment and the limited time for recovery have resulted in a further exacerbation of the coping capacities of communities residing in the region.
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REACH RAPID NEEDS ASSESSMENT
• According to official figures, more than 180,000 people have been displaced from southern Idleb and northern Hama in the first two weeks of May due to increased aerial bombardments and violence. As conflict continues, the number of displaced is expected to climb. Recent estimates have raised the figure to up to 200,000.
• Most of the displaced are heading north to Dana, due to the presence of established camps for internally displaced people. The large number of arrivals has reportedly overstretched the capacity of the camps to provide shelter and services, forcing many to seek shelter under trees and in other unofficial and unprotected locations.
• The lack of livelihoods and funds have limited people’s ability to move to safer locations. The report noted instances where the price of transport had significantly increased due to the surge in demand. Loans and remittances are among the most commonly reported sources of income, leaving many in a precarious financial situation.
• People are reportedly unable to travel to markets due to shelling and conflict, and several markets are reported to have closed. In an area where the majority rely on markets, such restrictions leave many without sufficient food. In other areas, prices of goods have spiked to be the highest recorded since March 2018.
• Airstrikes and shelling have destroyed at least 15 hospitals, as well as schools and homes. The scale of damage will mean that people are not able to access critical healthcare, children are unable to go to school, and people will face challenges in rebuilding their homes. These are all conditions that have severe short and long-term impacts.
The continuation of violence has also resulted in severe limitations for the humanitarian response carried out in Idleb and Hama, and humanitarian workers themselves have been displaced and forced to cease operations. In an area where food aid is a significant source of livelihood for displaced populations, the restrictions faced by humanitarian actors have direct consequences for the daily lives of conflict-affected people.
“With a population that was already highly dependent on humanitarian aid prior to the most recent escalation in conflict, humanitarian conditions have deteriorated rapidly and needs have skyrocketed at an equal pace.
People are urgently in need of humanitarian assistance, which cannot be delivered right now due to the high intensity of violence. If the current developments continue, we will indeed be seeing an immense humanitarian tragedy involving scores of civilians,” Nanki Chawla says.
On Friday 17th, OCHA Under-Secretary General Mark Lowcock briefed the United Nations Security Council and noted, that the fears of the worst humanitarian tragedy of the 21st century taking place in Syria is one step closer to coming true.
SOURCE: ReliefWeb
