Attachments
1- Summary of Main Findings
Recent developments that began on 27 November have instilled a sense of hope. Syrian refugees in neighboring countries have been among those most visibly celebrating. However, they remain cautious and anxious about how the situation will unfold and what the future may hold. The security situation in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Homs, and Damascus remains dynamic, characterized by complex population movements, including significant internal displacement, the return of some IDPs to their homes, cross-border movements, and relatively limited refugee returns.
The ongoing crisis in Syria has had devastating consequences for the country and its people. Over 13 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes over the past 14 years, and 90% of the population inside Syria is in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. Recent developments across Syria will affect the lives of millions of people inside the country and throughout the region.
Syria is divided into four sectors:
• Northern sector: Includes Aleppo and is administered from Aleppo.
• Central Sector: Includes Homs, Hama, Latakia, and Tartous governorates and is managed from Homs.
• Damascus Sector: Includes Damascus and its suburbs and is managed from Damascus.
• Southern Sector: Includes Daraa, Sweida, and Quneitra, where coordinators will be appointed with international humanitarian organizations.
As of the date of writing this report, international organizations face difficulties operating directly inside Syria due to the need for licenses and registration. There is no clear information regarding the entity responsible for issuing these licenses, in addition to uncertainties about bank transactions and money transfers.
Regarding sources and management of information and data, there is no official entity that holds accurate and readily available information on the needs of each sector. Efforts are currently underway to compile relevant data, which will be shared by sector offices in Syria to facilitate coordination and prevent duplication.
Meanwhile, the new government is still in the formation phase, and it remains unclear which authority, whether the Ministry of Development or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be responsible for licensing international humanitarian organizations.
Based on the analysis of findings from the rapid multi-sector assessment, several recommendations have been identified to bolster the humanitarian response and effectively address the needs of the target groups. These recommendations focus on two priority levels:
• Short-term (3 to 12 months): Implement urgent interventions to address pressing needs identified through the assessment, such as providing basic supplies, improving health and shelter services, and ensuring access to clean water sources.
• Long-term (1 to 5 years): Strengthen coordination with local partners to ensure an integrated and timely response to crises. Develop strategic plans centered on enhancing communities’ ability to adapt to crises, including support for sustainable development projects and improvements to basic infrastructure. Invest in building the capacity of local teams and partners to bolster future responses and offer sustainable solutions.
In general, most Syrian cities have been grappling with recurring shortages of water, electricity, and household gas and fuel for many years. Most cities experience frequent water outages due to pumping failures, armed conflicts, and limited electricity and fuel supplies, all of which have negatively impacted daily life. There is an urgent need to rehabilitate drinking water treatment plants and main power stations to provide services to all civilians and to public and private facilities (such as homes, schools, hospitals, state institutions, and marketplaces) in order to enable recovery.
There is also an urgent need for various service vehicles and equipment, such as public security vehicles, excavators, cranes, heavy machinery for removing rubble, buses for transportation, and solid waste collection vehicles, to support in delivering basic services to vulnerable populations.
In the health sector, all health services require immediate support to maintain essential functions. This includes providing ambulances for the referral system and supplying hospitals with drug kits and specific medications for chronic illnesses (such as dialysis, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer).
Syrian hospitals are currently facing a severe crisis in managing kidney diseases, and several deaths have been reported in Hama and Aleppo hospitals due to the lack of necessary equipment and essential operating materials. Therefore, intervention in this domain is of critical importance, in coordination with local health directorates. The health system has declared a high-level alert because much of the equipment in use is outdated and cannot be adequately maintained due to restrictions imposed by the siege and sanctions on Syria.
On the other hand, governmental organizations must continue providing services in the camps of northwestern and eastern Syria as they did before 27 November, given the widespread destruction and the slow pace of returns. The limited return of camp residents is attributed to the extensive destruction of homes, the presence of mines and other explosives, deteriorating infrastructure in both cities and villages, and the lack of basic services necessary for safe repatriation.
The majority of the Syrian population suffers from poverty and urgently needs the restoration of bakeries, coverage of operating expenses, and a steady supply of fuel and flour in various areas. Continued distribution of food baskets is necessary to prevent malnutrition, particularly because recent exchange rate fluctuations and rising prices have sharply reduced households’ purchasing power.
In the education sector, many schools have been completely destroyed while others require renovation, in addition to incurring operational costs for heating fuel and stationery. High transportation costs and ongoing economic hardship have contributed to an increase in school dropouts, as families cannot meet the related expenses.
Homes, public institutions, and marketplaces urgently need support for restoration and rehabilitation to encourage the return of displaced people in a dignified manner.
Finally, the cancellation of customs duties on certain goods has led to an influx of high-specification foreign products, negatively affecting the local industry, which is already struggling with multiple challenges.