Syrian Arab Republic: Flash Update No. 1 - Heavy Snowfall Hits Displaced Communities in Northern Syria (as of 6 January 2026)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Two infants died due to extreme cold in two IDP camps in Harim, northern Idleb countryside, following a snowstorm that hit northern Syria on 31 December 2025, affecting 90 IDP sites across Aleppo, Idleb and Al-Hasakeh governorates, impacting around 158,000 displaced people.
• Around 5,000 shelters/tents were completely or partially damaged, leaving thousands exposed to freezing temperatures and requiring urgent reinforcement and weatherproofing.
• Camps in Al-Hasakeh and collective shelters in Ar-Raqqa face 100 per cent gaps in heating fuel coverage, with the previous fuel support having ended in December 2025. Vulnerable families risk hypothermia and respiratory illnesses.
• Humanitarian partners reached 10,845 displaced people in camps affected by heavy snowstorms with winter NFIs, stoves and fuel, however only four sites were reached out of 86 IDP sites for emergency road rehabilitation due to funding and access constraints.
• Immediate priorities include safe heating solutions, emergency shelter repairs, winter NFI distributions, and road clearance to restore access for life-saving services. Without rapid scale-up, health risks for children, elderly, and chronically ill will escalate.
• USD 112 million is required to deliver life-saving winter assistance, yet only USD 29 million has been received leaving a 74 per cent gap.

SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

On 31 December 2025, heavy snowstorms hit IDP sites and camps across the north of the country that lasted for several days, blocking roads within and to the camps and disrupting access affecting around 158,000 IDPs across Aleppo, Idleb and Al-Hasakeh governorates. On 1 and 2 January, according to the CCCM Sector, two infants, a two-day-old girl and three months old boy, passed away due to the extreme cold weather in Aqadimi IDP site in Salqin sub-district and in Tajmuaa Alez IDP site in Dana sub-district, respectively in northern Idleb countryside.

The CCCM sector reported that 99 incidents, mainly snowstorms and floods, took place in 86 IDP sites. 68 per cent of the affected sites are distributed across Armanaz, Badama, Dana, Darkosh, Harim, Janudiyeh, Maaret Tamsrin, Qourqeena and Salqin sub-districts in northern Idleb countryside and 32 per cent of the IDP camps and sites are located across Afrin, A’zaz and Jebel Saman sub-districts in northern and western Aleppo countrysides. The affected sites in Aleppo and Idleb are home to more than 118,000 IDPs, around 21,900 households who were affected by the weather conditions.

Shelter/NFI Sector reports that 785 shelters/tents were completely damaged, rendering households without adequate shelter and 4,116 shelters/tents partially damaged, requiring urgent reinforcement and weatherproofing. This indicates significant shelter vulnerability, particularly for tents and makeshift shelters exposed to snow load, wind, and water ingress. The snowstorm followed by sub-zero temperatures has also significantly impacted IDP camps in Al-Hasakeh Governorate mainly Newroz camp home to 5,000 IDPs, Tal Aswad/Roj camp home to 2,338 IDPs, Twina/Washokani camp home to 16,280 IDPs and Talaee/Sare Kanya home to 16,352 IDPs, bringing movement to a standstill and forcing the closure of most service delivery points.

Newroz Camp located in the north-east of the governorate in Al-Malikeyyeh sub-district was the most affected, with tents collapsing under snow accumulation. IDP camps in the governorate raised concerns over the suspension of heating fuel distribution and poor road conditions. Previous fuel support ended in December 2025, leaving camps without heating assistance during peak winter. Collective shelters in Ar-Raqqa, home to around 856 families, remain completely not covered with fuel support. Local authorities proposed subsidized fuel at USD 0.35 per liter (market price ≈ USD 0.50), but this option is uncertain and insufficient to meet immediate needs.

The extreme cold, combined with inadequate shelter and heating, poses severe health risks. Urgent health interventions are required to prevent excess morbidity and mortality, particularly among children, older persons, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions. Without immediate intervention, the lack of heating fuel and inadequate shelter conditions will lead to escalating health risks, including respiratory illnesses and hypothermia.