Attachments
Objective
The objective of this rapid multi-sectoral needs assessment was to identify priority humanitarian needs and sectoral gaps affecting resident, internally displaced, and returnee populations in the Ashrafieh and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhoods of Aleppo city.
Specifically, the assessment examined population dynamics, including recent displacement and return trends, as well as the presence and distribution of vulnerable groups such as female-headed households, child-headed households, and persons with disabilities. It further analyzed critical gaps across key humanitarian sectors, including Food Security, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Health, Education, Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs), and Winterization .
In addition, the assessment evaluated access to and functionality of essential services and local markets, with particular attention to service availability and coverage, economic access constraints, and damage to infrastructure. Finally, the assessment sought to identify priority humanitarian interventions required to address the most urgent needs and strengthen community coping capacities.
Key Findings
▪ Ashrafieh presents higher humanitarian needs due to its large population and scale of food insecurity, while Sheikh Maqsoud exhibits higher proportional vulnerability, particularly among female-headed and child-headed households and winter-vulnerable populations .
▪ Both neighborhoods host internally displaced households and are experiencing return movements; however, limited absorptive capacity and overstretched services constrain sustainable returns and increase pressure on host communities and infrastructure .
▪ Markets are functional in both areas, but reduced purchasing power, rising food prices, and income loss are the primary drivers of food insecurity. Severity is higher in Ashrafieh, while Sheikh Maqsoud faces persistent access constraints despite lower consumption stress .
▪ Across both neighborhoods, health services are constrained by limited PHC capacity, nonfunctional hospitals, and minimal emergency care, while shelter damage, inadequate winterization, and WASH-related environmental risks continue to undermine living conditions .
▪ Humanitarian response is challenged by price volatility, rising operational costs, funding limitations, and data gaps, underscoring the need for area-based and adaptive responses.