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Syria

Syria: Flash update on recent events - 22 February 2017

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This update provides a summary of recent displacement, along with developments from the UNHCR co-led Sector/Clusters of Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM), Shelter/Non Food Items (SNFI) and Protection.

CCCM CLUSTER KEY DISPLACEMENT STATISTICS (AS OF 14 FEBRUARY 2017)

  • 606,550 displacements recorded since 1 February 2016 from affected areas of northern and southern Syria:
    o 592,583 displacements from affected areas of northern Syria, including Aleppo (383,258), Hama (94,232), Idleb (76,724), Ar-Raqqa (21,388), Homs (7,959), Al-Hassakeh (5,098), Deir-Ez-Zor (2,616), Lattakia (1,308) governorates, northern Syria. This includes 46,673 new displacements recorded in February alone, with the majority from Aleppo Governorate.
    o 13,967 displacements from affected areas of Damascus and Rural Damascus, south-western Syria. This includes 2,787 new displacements recorded in February alone.

CONTEXTUAL DEVELOPMENTS

  • The United Nations-sponsored peace talks in Geneva are due to start tomorrow (23 February).

  • A UN spokesperson in New York said that the UN was alarmed by the intensification of fighting in the area around Eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus, having received reports of civilian deaths as a result of fighting in the Qaboun, Barza, Tishrine and West Harasta neighbourhoods. Inter-agency convoys have been unable to enter Eastern Ghouta since October 2016.

  • The UN expressed concern over the fate of an estimated 5,000 civilians trapped by fighting in and around AlBab (Aleppo Governorate) in northern Syria. A statement urgently calls on all parties to the conflict to ensure the unhindered movement and safe passage of people trying to reach safety.

  • In southern Syria, fighting continues in the city of Dar’a. Civilians continue to flee Dar’a city to avoid being caught in the line of fire and several houses have been burned or destroyed as a result of mortars and rockets. Estimates suggest that up to 10,000 people may have been displaced, but information on displacements is still being triangulated and verified.

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