Syrian Arab Republic: Flash Update No. 2 | The Humanitarian Situation in East Syria (As of 26 January 2026) [EN/AR]

HIGHLIGHTS

• Displacement remains high, with more than 170,000 internally displaced people recorded across Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh, and Ar-Raqqa governorates, including large concentrations in Qamishli and Al-Malikiyyeh.
• The ceasefire was extended for an additional 15 days on 24 January, contributing to a relative reduction in hostilities.
• Two humanitarian corridors have been opened to facilitate the movement of humanitarian assistance, medical cases, and civilians across affected areas.
• Humanitarian convoys continue to be dispatched, including multi-sectoral assistance and fuel supplies to support essential services, with additional convoys planned in the coming days.

SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

Recent weeks have seen notable developments across Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, and Al-Hasakeh governorates. A ceasefire agreement was signed on 21 January, which was extended for an additional 15 days on 24 January.

Displacement remains significant. As of 25 January, more than 170,000 internally displaced persons were recorded across 178 communities in 27 sub-districts in Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh, and Ar-Raqqa governorates. Qamishli hosts the highest number of displaced people, with approximately 97,900 IDPs, followed by Al-Malikiyyeh District with around 32,000 IDPs. Camps including Newroz, Areesha, and Sere Kaniye continue to face service gaps, overcrowding, and onward population movements, while access constraints limit verification and response efforts.

In Al-Hasakeh governorate, the situation remains volatile, with ongoing developments raising protection concerns. Pre-emptive displacement has been observed, with hundreds of families reportedly self-relocating from southern neighbourhoods of Al-Hasakeh city toward Shaddadi.

As a result of recent developments, more than 30,000 people have reportedly departed collective centres in Ar-Raqqa and Tabqa. These families, originally displaced from Afrin, Ash-Sheikh Maqsoud, and Ashrafiyeh, are now primarily located in Al-Hasakeh governorate, particularly in Qamishli city, where they are staying in both collective centres and host communities.

While humanitarian partners initially prioritized assistance to internally displaced persons in collective centres due to acute living conditions and the absence of registration and identification mechanisms in the early days of displacement, outreach is now being expanded to include families hosted within communities. This is supported by improved coordination with relevant authorities and stakeholders to strengthen registration, identify locations, and ensure assistance reaches all affected families.

Across the affected governorates, priority humanitarian needs include shelter and winterization assistance, food support, access to safe water, health care, and protection services, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups. Damage to infrastructure, the presence of explosive hazards, movement restrictions, and ongoing security concerns continue to constrain humanitarian access and limit the scale-up of assistance, despite the recent ceasefire extension.

A recent snowstorm has further compounded the situation for internally displaced persons in Kobani and Qamishli, among the most affected areas along the Türkiye border, intensifying winterization needs, including heating fuel, winter clothing, and other cold-weather assistance.