North-west Syria: Escalation of Hostilities - Flash Update No.3, 13 October 2023 [EN/AR]

Situation Overview

Number of displaced people reached 68,000

Some 68,000 people have been newly displaced following the significant escalation of hostilities that impacted more than 1,400 locations across Idleb and western Aleppo over the past week.

The CCCM Cluster recorded outgoing displacement movements in 91 communities with 26 per cent of displaced people coming from the Ariha sub-district.

As of 13 October, at least 53 people in affected areas have been killed, including 11 women and 15 children, and 303 others injured as reported by local health authorities since the start of the incidents on 5 October. Among the fatalities were three aid workers who passed away while at home, two of whom worked for partners of UN agencies and the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund.

The incidents also damaged critical services and infrastructure including 23 health facilities and hospitals and 17 schools.

UN officials crossed to Idleb to assess response

On 12 October, the UN conducted a cross-border mission to Idleb, led by David Carden, Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, to assess the ongoing response. The interagency delegation, comprised of OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, WHO and DSS, visited a reception center opened to newly displaced families and the Sham Surgical Hospital.

The delegation spoke with two family members at the reception center1 and met with health workers at the hospital, which has treated 35 patients wounded by the hostilities and performed eight emergency surgeries.

“What we’ve been hearing from communities is that they want to go home but they don’t feel safe to do so,” said Carden following the mission.

“If people are unable to return in the short term then we need to look at more sustainable shelter solutions. But to meet these growing needs, and with winter approaching, we urgently need more support,” he added.

As of 13 October, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria is still less than a third funded less than three months away from the new year.