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Syria

Turkey | Syria: Recent Developments in Northwestern Syria (Idleb Governorate and Afrin District) (as of 13 February 2018)

Attachments

Highlights

• Between 07 and 10 February, hostilities in Idleb governorate continued primarily in eastern and southern rural Idleb, where several aerial attacks and incidents of shelling were reported.

• Since 11 February, conflict intensity in parts of Idleb governorate reduced significantly. However, fighting between non-state armed groups (NSAGs) and the Islamic State in Iraq and Levan (ISIL) erupted in southern rural Idleb, threatening more displacement from southern rural Idleb governorate.

• Between 15 December and 03 February, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster tracked 325,443 displacements (some may be secondary displacements) in north-western Syria, mainly towards Dana, Salqin, Kafr Nobol, Ariha and Atareb sub-districts. An ad hoc report issued by the Cluster on displacement in Idleb governorate showed that 20,010 people were displaced from Saraqab sub-district between 21 January and 03 February.

• The situation in Afrin district remains of high concern. While the district saw a decrease in hostilities between 04 and 07 February, during which civilian life seemingly resumed in Afrin town, hostilities recommenced on 8 February

Situation Overview

1.1. Idleb Governorate:

Between 07 and 10 February, hostilities in Idleb governorate continued primarily in eastern and southern rural Idleb, where several aerial attacks and incidents of shelling were reported during the reporting period. Ground hostilities were concentrated in eastern rural Idleb where Government of Syria (GoS) forces advanced east of Saraqab town.

While no aerial attacks or ground-based hostilities are reported in the northern parts of the governorate, reports indicate that most communities are overcrowded with the current displacement putting further strain on the host communities. Shelter absorption capacity has already been exhausted and it is extremely difficult to find an affordable place to rent. IDPs who have been able to find places to rent are forced to pay large amounts of money, up to 300 – 400 USD. One NGO who built several mud housing units to host the most vulnerable IDPs in northern rural Idleb, reported that these housing units were taken over by newly arriving IDPs, rather than the targeted group.

With regards to hostilities in the other parts of Idleb governorate, the White Helmets reported the death of one of their members in an aerial attack on Ghafa village near Ma’arrat An Nu’man town in southern rural Idleb on 06 February.

On 07 February, airstrikes and artillery shelling on Ma’arrat An Nu’man town killed eight people and wounded at least 15 persons. The Kafr Nobol Local Council reported that airstrikes on 07 February rendered the council’s building out of service.

On 08 February, multiple airstrikes on Meshmshan village in western rural Idleb reportedly resulted in eight deaths and more than 20 injuries. Furthermore, two schools and a primary health care center, located next to each other, sustained structural damage, rendering them out of service. In eastern rural Idleb, airstrikes reportedly struck the Grains Center in Saraqab town, causing significant structural damage with no casualties reported. In southern rural Idleb, airstrikes struck a White Helmets center in Khan Shakyun town, reportedly killing three White Helmets workers, wounding four and rendering the center out of service. The airstrikes also reportedly damaged the nearby Al-Rahma hospital.
On 09 February, airstrikes on Has village in southern rural Idleb reportedly resulted in the death of 15 people and the wounding at least 25. The village’s local council building and a mosque sustained medium damage as a result of the attack. On the same day, airstrikes were reported on Ariha, Jisr Ash-Shugur and communities in southern rural Idleb.

As a result, the religious authorities in Ariha, Jisr Ash-Shugur and Kafr Nobol sub-districts cancelled the Friday prayer.

Additionally, airstrikes on Kfar Sejneh village in northern Khan Shaykhun reportedly killed two people and wounded many. In In the northern part of the governorate, indirect fire shelling on IDP settlements in Dana, Atma and Qah towns was reported, following an intensification of hostilities in the southern part of Afrin district. No casualties were reported but localized and temporary displacement from these settlements was observed.

Since 10 February, the number of airstrikes on Idleb governorate decreased significantly with less incidents reported in southern rural Idleb. Local sources reported some returnees to the communities surrounding Ma’arrat An Nu’man and Saraqab towns from northern rural Idleb. Most of these families were unable to find shelter alternatives in northern rural Idleb and stayed at houses of relatives and acquaintances.

Another source of insecurity during the month of February was the increased numbers of improvised explosive devices (IED) attacks in Idleb governorate. Since the beginning of February, at least 21 attacks were reported. This includes an attack on 10 February in a market in Idleb city, which reportedly killed seven people, including a woman, and wounded 20. On 12 February, an IED explosion in Maaret Tamsrin town in northern rural Idleb was reported. Initial reports indicate that eight people were killed and 15 were wounded as a result of this attack.

Following the suspension of the United Nations (UN) cross-border humanitarian shipments between on 20 January, measures to ensure the safety of staff and personnel were taken and the UN subsequently recommenced humanitarian shipments through Bab Al-Hawa crossing point as of 31 January. The number of trucks per day is limited to 15 pending ongoing assessment of the security situation. UN shipments through Bab Al-Salameh crossing resumed on 13 February with 13 trucks crossing into Syria. Similar to Bab Al-Hawa crossing, a limit of 15 trucks per day is in place for UN shipments through Bab Al-Salameh crossing.

Challenges facing humanitarian organizations operating in north-western Syria include increased interference by local authorities in humanitarian work. A number of humanitarian organizations reported incidents of interference in the implementation of projects and reported demands from local authorities to hand over a percentage of aid to them.

Consequently, some organizations were forced to suspend projects across different sectors.

1.2. Afrin district:

The situation in Afrin district remains of high concern. While the district saw a decrease in hostilities between 04 and 07 February, hostilities recommenced on 8 February. On 05 February, shelling on Raju sub-district reportedly damaged a medical center that belongs to the Kurdish Red Crescent. No casualties were reported.

Reports indicate that local authorities continue to prevent people trying to leave Afrin except for critical medical cases allowed by both the Afrin authorities and the Government of Syria (GoS). Reports of people reaching GoS-controlled areas through unofficial means continue to emerge. With regards to movement into Afrin district, the Nabul - Ziyara crossing is mostly open for civilians, commercial movement, and humanitarian supplies by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).

With regards to the availability of commercial goods in the district, residents in Afrin rely mostly on the fuel and food supplies from GoS areas through the Nabul – Ziyara crossing point, in addition to existing warehouse stocks. No changes in of the prices of food commodities were reported except for the bread, which decreased from SYP 250 to SYP 200 for a two-kilogram bag. The reason for the decrease remains unclear but is most probably linked to the renewed availability of fuel through commercial movement from GoS controlled areas.

Concerns were raised about the availability of water in Afrin town and surrounding communities as one out of the six purification basins of the water treatment plant outside of Doha village (known as Matineh and Matenli) in the northern parts of Afrin district was damaged on 06 February. This resulted in the temporary discontinuation of water services and a decreased of water being treated. Water is reportedly being pumped twice a week through the general network to Afrin city; other villages depend mainly on wells for water supply. This comes following the reported airstrikes near the 17 April Dam, which happened on 24 January. Electricity remains unavailable. Health facilities are functioning but they lack trauma kits.

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