Syria (Turkey cross-border)

Overview

At least 220,000 civilians 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 7.8 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 have 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

Airstrikes and ground attacks are ongoing in multiple towns and cities in the northeast after Turkey launched a military offensive into the Kurdish-held territory on 9 October. As of 15 October, fighting between Turkish Armed Forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) caused over 130 civilian casualties and displaced at least 190,000 people from their homes. The majority have fled into the governorates of Raqqa and Hasakeh, where towns are overwhelmed by the influx and services, are overstretched. Concerns remain for families staying in IDP camps in close proximity to the frontlines. Conflict has severely damaged the water and electric supply infrastructure. Multi-sectoral needs are reported. Continued escalation of conflict in northeast Syria puts nearly 2 million civilians at risk and further displacement is likely to exacerbate needs and push humanitarian services to their limits. The people living in northeast Syria have experienced multiple displacements, surrounding cities where people are likely to flee are heavily contaminated with mines and lack basic services, and IDP camps in the area are already overstretched due to years of conflict. Humanitarian operations are severely hampered by heavy shelling, disrupted supply chains of humanitarian goods, and changing armed actors in operational areas. INGO’s have evacuated international staff.  ​​​​​​?