Syria (Turkey cross-border)

Overview

At least 224,000 civilians, including 29,000 children, have died as a result of conflict since the civil war began in 2011. ?An estimated 11.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. ?6.2 million are internally displaced and 6.8 million refugees have left the country, mostly to neighbouring Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan.  ?

The humanitarian needs in Syria are severe across all sectors, with health, shelter, and food needs most critical in areas where fighting continues, including governorates in the northwest and northeast of the country. Protection interventions are required countrywide. Access for humanitarians remains extremely problematic, even in areas retaken by the Syrian Arab Army. ?

Since late 2015, the Syrian Arab Army has been slowly regaining territory across the country. With only governorates in the northeast and northwest remaining outside government control, the war is widely seen as entering its final and possibly most violent stages. Turkish, Russian, Iranian, American, and Syrian troops are stationed inside Syria, as well as a range of non-state armed groups ranging from more moderate opposition groups to Salafist Jihadi groups. 

Latest Developments

On 10 January the UN Security Council (UNSC) approved resolution 2504 prolonging the delivery of UN humanitarian aid through the border crossings of Bab al Salam and Bab al Hawa between Turkey and north-west Syria just before its final deadline. Following the resolution aid will no longer be delivered through two additional crossings, the Jaber-Naseeb crossing with Jordan and the Al Yaroubia crossing with Iraq. This increases the workload for humanitarian operators within north-east Syria, with the closure of an aid lifeline which had been active since 2014. While in previous UNSC resolutions delivery of cross border aid was authorised for one whole year, this time operations have been allowed for a reduced period of six months. As of November 2019, 4 million Syrians were benefiting from cross-border aid deliveries, 1.3 million in the North East only, through the Al Yaroubia crossing. ?

09/01/2020: Intensified hostilities between government forces and non-state armed groups in the north-western governorate of Idlib have caused the displacement of over 312,000 people since December 2019. This adds to the 400,000 already displaced between May and August. IDPs are moving further north towards cities and IDP camps or crossing into the Aleppo governorate. Civilian casualties have been reported after shelling of camps, schools, and markets. The cold and rains exacerbate humanitarian needs with tents flooded and IDPs exposed to low temperatures while sleeping in precarious shelters or in the open air. Increased fuel prices and a fuel shortage hinder transportation for civilians, but also for aid delivery. Other access difficulties are due to the volatile security situation and muddy roads. Protection, food, shelter and NFI, and health are all areas of concern. Humanitarian organisations are operating further north in the governorate and an emergency allocation for the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) was confirmed.?Hostilities continue in the northwest despite a ceasefire between Turkey and Russia implemented on 12 January. At least 20 civilians have died between 12 and 15 January.?

For more information on the humanitarian impact of the conflict in north-west Syria, please see the relevant paragraph below.