Syria: Cold Wave - Jan 2022

Heavy snowfall affected north-west Syria on 18 January, damaging displacement sites, tents and people’s belongings. According to preliminary reports, 22 sites in Aleppo Governorate (mainly Afrin and Azaz districts) and nine sites in Idleb Governorate (mainly Harim district) were affected. As of 19 January, 362 tents were reported damaged and 2,124 individuals (429 families) affected. Abraz Camp in Ma’btali subdistrict in Afrin was badly affected and families were evacuated to safer shelter, including the camp’s administrative building, a nearby school and Abraz village [...] The most pressing needs are reopening of the roads for uninterrupted access to the sites, moving the affected persons to safe places, securing means for heating, replacing destroyed tents, providing ready-to-eat meals and winter clothes for children and families. (OCHA, 20 Jan 2022)

The Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster reported that across Idleb and Aleppo governorates there has been heavy snowfall in 157 sites, mainly in Afrin, Azaz and Harim districts. Heavy rain caused flooding in 66 sites, particularly in Harim and Idleb districts. Strong winds affected four sites in Azaz and Maaret Tamsrin districts in Aleppo and Idleb. So far, 545 tents have been reported destroyed and 9,125 tents damaged by snowfall, floods and winds, along with belongings of displaced people. All major public roads in the affected locations in Idleb and Aleppo governorates are open, including the Raju – Afrin road. Keeping the roads open for uninterrupted access to displacement sites is critical. Relocation of affected households to safer locations, provision of heating materials and food items and replacing damaged tents are urgently needed. (OCHA, 25 Jan 2022)