Attachments
This update is based on information from the UNHCR co-led Sectors/Clusters of CCCM, Shelter/NFI and Protection, and reflects recent displacement occurring in northern and southern Syria.
KEY STATISTICS
- Displacement in affected areas of Aleppo and Idleb governorates (as at 22 February) due to fighting since 1 February 2016:
o 75,175 people newly displaced since 1 February.
- Displacement in affected areas of Dar’a Governorate (as at 9 February) due to fighting since November 2015:
o Around 43,000 newly displaced due to fighting since November 2015.
MAIN NEW POPULATION MOVEMENTS
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In northern Syria, there have been 63,702 newly displaced persons in Aleppo Governorate since 1 February, and 11,473 newly displaced in Idleb Governorate since 1 February (figures as at 22 February).
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In southern Syria, of the total 43,000 IDPs displaced (figures as at 9 February) by fighting in Dar’a Governorate since November 2015, around 32,000 are in the west and 11,000 are in the east of the Governorate.
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In addition, according to Government of Jordan sources there are now 27,100 Syrian asylum-seekers at the berm, the vast majority (25,000) of them located at Rukban and the other 2,100 located at Hadalat (figures as at 21 February). As of 25 February, UNHCR has registered 2,063 of the individuals at Hadalat and 18,987 of those at Rukban.
CONTEXTUAL DEVELOPMENTS
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The UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, has said the country faces an important day as the "cessation of hostilities" agreement is due to take effect at midnight tonight. The deal marks the biggest diplomatic attempt to end the five-year conflict.
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The Syrian army retook the strategic town of Khanasir from ISIS on 25 February, paving the way for the reopening of its sole supply route from Damascus to Aleppo. The GoS counteroffensive was backed by Russian air strikes.
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The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported at least ten air raids and artillery shelling targeting the town of Douma, in opposition-held Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.
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The Observatory also reported artillery bombardment by government forces and air strikes overnight in Hama province, and artillery bombardment by government forces in Homs province.
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Fighting also resumed early on 26 February between opposition and government forces in the northwestern province of Lattakia, where the Syrian army is trying to regain territory at the border with Turkey.
UNHCR CO-LED SECTOR/CLUSTER UPDATES
- The preliminary findings of the CCCM cluster gap analyses for the eight existing informal IDP sites in Northern Azaz show that the infrastructure and services are overstretched and many IDPs are hosted by other IDP families in these sites. Tents and mattresses are listed as the two main uncovered needs in these sites.