Syrian Arab Republic: Cross-Border Humanitarian Reach and Activities from Türkiye (October 2023)

CONTEXT

The month of October saw an increase of hostilities centered across Idleb and western Aleppo – the most significant escalation in north-west Syria since 2019. More than 70 deaths, including three humanitarian workers and 349 injuries, including 77 children, were reported since 5 October at the start of the escalation. Over 2,300 locations have been affected, resulting in the displacement of over 120,000 people in two weeks. Critical facilities and infrastructure were also impacted including 43 health facilities, including a maternity and child hospital, 27 schools and over 20 water systems.

The UN and its partners have supported displaced communities with food, hygiene kits, tents, medicines, psychosocial support and many more. By the end of October, over 42,000 people had been supported with food, nearly 26,000 people with protection services, including psychosocial support, and over 21,500 family hygiene kits were distributed. Three mental hospitals and Child-Friendly Spaces were operational with the support of partners.

The hostilities have not disrupted the cross-border operation. Between 5 and 31 October, 144 trucks carrying shelter items, nutrition supplements and other aid by the UN crossed from Türkiye to north-west Syria via Bab Al-Hawa and Bal Al-Salam. In the month of October, the UN conducted 28 cross-border missions. As of 30 October, since the first interagency visit to Idleb on February 14, the UN has completed 252 cross-border missions reaching 34 out of 45 sub-districts in north-west Syria including all sub-districts in northern Aleppo and frontline areas. Following the hostilities, the Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) launched a Reserve Allocation with an indicative envelope of US$2.6 million to address urgent needs that cannot be covered by other grants or the Standard Allocation that was launched on 5 October.