ReliefWeb

PEOPLE AFFECTED

240,000+ people-in-need Afrin, including 170,000 people displaced

HEALTH RISKS

There are shortages of medical supplies and a need to deploy health care partners to improve access to health care services, especially primary health care, vaccination and trauma care services.

Insecurity and limited access cause concern for transporting medical cases, as there is an urgent need for medical evacuations to hospitals.

The restoration of potable water in Afrin city through the networks remains a major priority to ensure that civilians residing in the city have sufficient access to potable water and are not at the risk of contracting waterborne diseases.

FUNDING REQUIREMENTS

US$ 5.4 million is required by WHO to respond to the urgent health needs of people affected by conflict in Afrin

Current Situation

Turkish government forces and non-state armed groups took control of Afrin city and Mebatli sub-district, northwest Syria, on 17 March, where between 50,000 and 70,000 people reportedly remain. An additional 100,000 people remain in rural areas of Afrin sub-district. Information is limited, but dire humanitarian conditions have been reported.

An estimated 167,000 people have been displaced by the hostilities. The majority, some 137,000 people, has fled to Tal Refaat and the remainder to Nubul, Zahraa and surrounding villages. Areas hosting displaced people in Tal Refaat, Nabul, Zahraa and surrounding villages are already at full capacity, and people have not been able to move to Aleppo city. The massive influx of people out of Afrin is putting a strain on nearby host communities, which are already overwhelmed.

HeRAMS Syria reports that all public health facilities in Afrin district (24) are reported to be out of service, while 6 public health centers are reported as partially functioning in Nabul, Zahraa, Dier Jamal, Kafar Naya, Meskan, and Abin. Reports indicate that the majority of the city’s medical staff were among the displaced population to the nearby communities.

Access to Aleppo City for IDPs is currently restricted. This is a particular concern for medical cases, as there is an urgent need for medical evacuations to specialized hospitals in Aleppo City for severely sick people.