Attachments
KEY MESSAGES
• Findings indicate that the recent security deterioration in Deir ez-Zor has significantly reduced households’ access to basic services, including healthcare, markets and livelihoods across all sub-districts.
• Thiban sub-district was reportedly most severely impacted in terms of access to services and livelihoods.
KIs in Thiban also reported the highest reliance on humanitarian aid prior to 27 August.
• As a result of conflict escalation, movement restrictions and insecurity have prevented people from physically accessing workplaces and markets.
Additionally, disrupted supply chains are causing shortages of essential items, fuel and water.
• Access to health services has reportedly decreased in 94% of assessed communities. All sub-districts recorded closures of health facilities or the suspension of health services, while insecurity limited households’ ability to access functioning health services.
CONTEXT & RATIONALE
In late August 2023, following several weeks of increasing tensions, there was a significant escalation of conflict in parts of Northeast Syria (NES), with several sub-districts in Deir-ez-Zor governate being among the most affected areas by the deteriorating security situation. The fighting has resulted in dozens of civilian deaths, led to new displacements, and disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid and access to basic services such as healthcare, drinking water, and electricity.
These developments follow a steadily worsening humanitarian situation in the region in general and have exacerbated several preexisting challenges and trends. In response to the conflict escalation, REACH, in coordination with the NES NGO Forum, carried out a rapid needs assessment to provide humanitarian actors with timely information about related humanitarian impacts and needs.