Attachments
This update provides a summary of recent displacement, along with developments from the UNHCR co-led Sector/Clusters of Protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Shelter/Non Food Items (SNFI).
KEY DISPLACEMENT STATISTICS (AS OF 28 NOVEMBER 2017)
1,240,626 displacements recorded by the CCCM Cluster in the last 12 months from affected areas of northern and southern Syria:
o 1,235,636 displacements from affected areas of northern Syria, including Ar-Raqqa (320,448),
Aleppo (301,945), Deir-Ez-Zor (240,201), Hama (191,092), Idleb (81,988), Homs (51,220), AlHassakeh (13,727), Lattakia (1,558) governorates, northern Syria. This includes 11,660 new displacements recorded so far in November 2017, with the majority (7,195) displaced from Deir-EzZor Governorate.
o 33,457 displacements from affected areas of Damascus, Rural Damascus, Sweida and Dar’a, southwestern Syria.
CONTEXTUAL DEVELOPMENTS
The UN is deeply concerned for the well-being and protection of civilians in Ar-Raqqa city and surrounding areas, where an estimated 34,000 people have reportedly returned. There continue to be reports of explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices resulting in civilian casualties daily. On 1 and 2 December, 11 people were reportedly killed and many injured by landmines. In total so far, there were at least 200 civilian casualties reported due to improvised explosive devices. Ar-Raqqa city also urgently requires food, water and other assistance, and the UN is concerned about the possibility of disease spreading. Humanitarian partners remain unable to access the city until the clearing of mines and other unexploded ordnance is completed.
The UN continues to be concerned by the recent escalation in hostilities in eastern Ghouta and Damascus city. On 30 November, the UN appealed for the urgent medical evacuation of 500 medical cases, including 167 children, from eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people remain besieged. On 3 December, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reportedly captured the last remaining areas of DeirEz-Zor’s eastern countryside from extremist groups.
OPERATIONAL UPDATE
On 28 November, UNHCR represented SNFI and Protection Sectors (Jordan Hub) by participating in an advocacy visit to the Jordan-Syria border crossing at Ramtha, led by the UN RC/HC together with the Government of Jordan and highlighting the nature and importance of the assistance provided through crossborder assistance to a delegation of EU member state embassies. On behalf of the SNFI and Protection Working Groups, UNHCR provided an update on achievements by members of these sectors