Situation Overview
An escalation in hostilities has been ongoing in Northwest Syria since 26 November, with an operation against SDF as part of “Operation Dawn of Freedom” on 30 November. Escalating conflict activities and dramatic shifts in territorial control have resulted in significant displacement towards DAANEScontrolled areas of the Northeast from Aleppo and Tel Refaat.
Tayha crossline entry point located in Manbij sub-district in Aleppo governorate was militarized and closed on 30 November. The main crossline entry point in Tabqa remains operational but the road leading to it has been cut-off following the escalations and therefore displaced families are being redirected to Bu Assi crossline entry point, also located in Tabqa sub-district, Raqqa governorate.
On December 02, the Deir-ez-Zor Military Council (DMC) formed an emergency cell and declared launching the military operation “Battle of Return” to take seven villages in Khasham sub-district in Deir-ez-Zor that are under the control of the Government of Syria. Clashes were reported on December 03 leading to temporary displacement from these areas towards the neighbouring villages and the western countryside of Deir-ez-Zor.
As of December 05, DAANES crisis cell figures indicated the arrival of between 60-80,000 individuals who have been displaced into Northeast Syria following the escalation of conflict in Tel Rifaat and Aleppo, with up to 40,000 additional people estimated to arrive over the next days. The confirmation of figures is an ongoing challenge however, partners on the ground are reporting overwhelming numbers in Tabqa where the reception site is at full capacity and another reception site was opened on December 04. In Tabqa, 35 buildings were assigned to host IDPs. The situation in Raqqa is chaotic, people are reported to be sleeping on the streets and in their cars, despite having more than 70 buildings assigned as temporary collective centers. As of December 04, 4 new reception sites were established in Kobani, Hassakeh and Qamishli cities with more than 400 families reported by the authorities to have arrived in those locations since the afternoon of December 04.