DAMASCUS, 29 December 2016- The United Nations is alarmed that four million inhabitants in Damascus and surrounding areas have been cut off from the main water supply since 22 December. Two primary sources of drinking water- Wadi Barada and Ain-el-Fijah-which provide clean and safe water for 70 percent of the population in and around Damascus are not functioning, due to deliberate targeting resulting in the damaged infrastructure.

Damascus, 18 January 2016:

(Damascus, 11 December 2015)

The United Nations (UN) in Syria and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) evacuated over 300 combatants along with their families and the critically injured from Al Waer (Homs) and transferred them into Idleb governorate as stipulated in a local Agreement between the Government of Syria and the Local Committee of Al Waer. In an evacuation operation that was carried out on Wednesday, a United Nations team and its partners moved about 700 evacuees from Al Waer, including thirty wounded.

December 2014

Prepared by the Humanitarian Country Team

SUMMARY Strategic objectives

• Promote protection of and access to affected people in accordance with International law, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL).

• Provide life-saving and life-sustaining humanitarian assistance to people in need, prioritizing the most vulnerable.

• Strengthen resilience, livelihoods and early recovery through communities and institutions.

Prepared by OCHA for the HC/RC Syria and the D/RHC, on behalf of humanitarian partners operating in Syria

HIGHLIGHTS

The two-months Joint Operational Plans for the Whole of Syria has led to:

• Improved information sharing and operational coordination between all actors, paving the way for a more coherent response in 2015.

• Reduction in overlap, identification of areas of complementarity between cross-border, cross-line and regular operations, leading to immediate efficiency gains and better coverage of affected people.