Attachments
Overview of Developments
• At the Jdaidet Yabous crossing point (Rural Damascus), UNHCR has observed a sustained decline in the rate of new arrivals from Lebanon following the airstrikes that hit an area near the Masnaa crossing point (Lebanon), which was the primary travel route for those crossing into Syria from Lebanon.
• A decrease in arrivals was also observed at the other crossing points including Homs (Joussieh, Daboussieh and Jesr Al Qmar), where the rate has now relatively returned to levels similar to those before airstrikes hit Masnaa (Lebanon).
• UNHCR and its partners’ presence at all Syrian crossing points is ongoing and responding to the needs of new arrivals from Lebanon, including through the provision of relief items, medical assistance, data collection and legal counselling.
• Syria continues to keep the borders open to those fleeing Lebanon. The immigration offices at the Syrian borders continue to process new arrivals flexibly, including those who do not have Lebanese exit stamps. UNHCR and partners’ legal teams are on-site at the borders to support and advocate for cases who are not granted immediate entry.
• Lebanese families who recently arrived into Syria with no alternative accommodation continue to be supported through the locally-established hosting centres as well as communities. More than 25 hosting centres located throughout Damascus, Rural Damascus, Homs, Hama, Idleb, Tartous and Latakia governorates with a collective estimated capacity to accommodate some 10,000 people are hosting new arrivals from Lebanon.
• As of 10 October, over 3,000 vulnerable individuals are being accommodated in hosting centres. UNHCR and its partners remain actively engaged with these families to ensure that they are supported both directly and through UNHCR-supported community centres in their host areas
Overview of New Arrivals
• Since the influx from Lebanon, UNHCR and its partner, SARC, distributed relief items to over 250,000 individuals at the Syrian crossing points, including food and water, hygiene kits, blankets and winter clothes.
• On 9 October, some 90 families (221 individuals) arrived from Lebanon through the Joussieh and Daboussieh crossing points in Homs. This includes 44 Syrian families (123 individuals) and 45 Lebanese families (98 individuals). Only two Lebanese nationals and two Syrian Families (some 10 individuals) arrived at the Jesr Al Qmar crossing point in Homs.
• At the Al Arida crossing point, some 630 individuals (328 Lebanese and 301 Syrians) arrived from Lebanon on 8 October. Many newly arrived Lebanese families reported experiencing multiple displacements within Lebanon as a result of the hostilities, which ultimately forced them to cross into Syria.
• Provision of onward transportation to extremely vulnerable individuals arriving at the Syrian crossing points continues. Since 23 September, UNHCR, in coordination with SARC, has provided buses to transport over 20,000 persons to their intended destinations inside Syria.