Syrian Arab Republic: Thematic Humanitarian Access Snapshot (Ras Al Ain-Tell Abiad Area) November 2022

Key figures

UN population estimates (May 2022): 144,000

First humanitarian XL access: 27 October 2022

Overview

On 27 October, WHO and UNICEF organized a humanitarian cross-line mission to Ras Al Ain. This marks the first humanitarian cross-line mission to the Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad area since October 2019. The one-day mission saw the delivery of medical supplies from Qamishli to Ras Al Ain National Hospital, expected to be sufficient for 14,160 treatment courses. In addition, mission participants were able to assess main Health and WASH needs in the hospital. For Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) members, cross-line access to the area requires the approval of all relevant stakeholders.

Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad area is 30 km deep and 150 km wide and extends over portions of four sub-districts in Ar-Raqqa and Al Hasakeh governorates in Northeast Syria. Humanitarian access to the area, up until the mission took place, had not been possible for HCT partners. Since October 2019, there has been significant demographic changes to this ethnic diverse territory, with most of its original inhabitants either being displaced to other communities within Northeast Syria (NES) or have had to leave the country.

Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad is also home to several important infrastructure sites that are relevant to the humanitarian operation, including Alouk water station and key grain silos in Suluk, Sharkrak, Tal Halaf and Mabruka. Sparsely populated rural settings dominate the landscape of the area, with Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad towns being the only significant urban centres. Agricultural and livestock rearing are the main income generating activities for the remaining civilian population in the area.

Since October 2019, HCT partners have consistently designated the Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad area as one of the locations with high access severity. The humanitarian community hopes to build on the momentum gained from this mission to regularly respond to existing and potential humanitarian needs in the area. Mission participants reported that further missions are required to better understand the needs of the affected people in Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad. Following the success of the first cross-line mission to Ras Al Ain, the humanitarian community calls on all stakeholders to ensure continuous unimpeded access of humanitarian partners to Ras Al Ain and Tell Abiad.