Attachments
Note: while the Situation Report focuses on the update on the emergency response to displacement from Lebanon, it also highlights broader displacement dynamics due to the rapidly evolving context in Syria.
Context Overview
As of November 19th, data from border posts indicate that among the Syrians who have arrived, 24% headed to Aleppo, 9% to Dar'a, 7% to Hama, 4% to Homs, and 11% to Rural Damascus. It is estimated that between September and the end of November, approximately 562,000 individuals crossed from Lebanon into Syria, with an estimated 63% of them being Syrians1. However, the displacement dynamics changed rapidly on November 28th. Following the ceasefire in Lebanon, there was a notable increase in immediate departures, with 30,000 Lebanese individuals leaving Syria2. In parallel, the escalation of hostilities in Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama quickly altered internal displacement patterns within Syria leading to rapid escalation of the displacement situation. Hama and Homs are facing a critical humanitarian situation with the opening of new hosting centres, quickly exceeding capacity with more than reported 10,870 individuals. Rural Damascus has also faced a rapid influx of arrivals with more than 7,000 arriving in Set Zainab, and Herjellah hosting centre reaching its capacity of 2,500 occupants.
Changing Displacement Patterns
Hostilities in Syria have rapidly intensified as the Non-State Armed Group (NSAG), Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), launched a large-scale military operation in the north. By November 29, HTS had captured Aleppo city and moved southward, reaching Hama by November 30. On December 1st, reports indicated that the Khanaser-Atharaya road—an essential route for internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing Aleppo—was cut off. This situation has made it difficult for those fleeing from rural areas to reach the city, rendering them difficult to access. While Hama city remains under the control of the Syrian government, fighting continues. The situation is highly volatile, resulting in continuous population displacement and a high likelihood of further escalation and worsening humanitarian conditions. The areas most affected by the clashes are likely to experience significant outflows toward government-controlled territories and the countryside, with the most probable direction of displacement being towards urban centres in government-controlled regions. A major displacement has been noted towards Hama, Homs, and Rural Damascus.