Attachments
Highlights
• Following the escalation of violence between 12 to 19 July, the security situation in As-Sweida Governorate remains tense, with intermittent clashes and restricted mobility—despite recently granted humanitarian access; roadblocks and insecurity continue to hinder aid delivery.
• Nearly 192,000 people are internally displaced since the beginning of clashes, with urgent needs in food, health, WASH, shelter, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Children face increased protection risks in overcrowded shelters.
• On 31 July, UNICEF participated in the first high-level inter-agency mission to As-Sweida led by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. visiting As-Sweida City, Shahba, and Salkhad to assess needs and deliver humanitarian assistance.
• UNICEF, through SARC and other partners, delivered over 65,000 bottles of drinking water and 3,272 cubic metres of water via trucking, providing safe water access to approximately 30,000 people in Dar’a and As-Sweida Governorates.
• Over 4,000 children and women received life-saving health and nutrition services through UNICEFsupported mobile medical teams operating in the hardest-hit areas since the escalation of hostilities.
• Nearly 1,500 children, including 700 girls, benefited from psychological first aid, recreational activities, and explosive ordnance risk education, helping restore safety, well-being, and a sense of normalcy.
Situation Update
Following the ceasefire on 19 July, overall violence in As-Sweida governorate has decreased, though intermittent clashes continue, leaving the situation tense and unpredictable. Security forces affiliated with the Interim authorities maintain control over key urban areas in the As-Sweida Governorate. In the Shahaba district of the rural area of As-Sweida, sporadic clashes have been reported, particularly around Al-Ariqah and Rimah areas and near Walgha town, potentially violating the ceasefire. Moreover, multiple air strikes were conducted on 29 July in the Rimat Hazem and Al-Thaalah areas of As-Sweida.
Access to public services in As-Sweida remains severely limited. The unavailability of fuel for water pumping stations has critically reduced the water supply. Extensive infrastructure damage across the governorate, especially in As-Sweida City, has caused significant disruptions to electricity, water, telecommunications, and internet services. As a result of power outages, water shortages, and lack of essential supplies, local hospitals are operating below full capacity.
WHO has reported five attacks on healthcare facilities3 in As-Sweida Governorate, including the tragic deaths of two doctors. These attacks involved the obstruction of medical services, targeting ambulances, and the temporary occupation of hospitals. Such incidents severely undermine the delivery of life-saving care and put the lives of children, families, and health workers at grave risk. UNICEF reiterates that health facilities and personnel must be protected from attacks.
Despite relative calm, humanitarian access remains severely constrained due to roadblocks, insecurity, and communication challenges, limiting humanitarian partners’ ability to conduct comprehensive needs assessments and deliver critical assistance at scale.
Between 24 and 28 July, OCHA led two Inter-Agency missions with UN agencies and NGOs to assess the humanitarian situation of displaced populations in Rural Damascus and Dar’a Governorates, especially regarding Child Protection, WASH, and Health & Nutrition.
On 29 July, following 16 days of hostilities, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted access to UN agencies and humanitarian partners to As-Sweida Governorate. The Ministry urged a scale-up of humanitarian efforts in As-Sweida and Dar’a, highlighting urgent needs in food security, health, education, WASH, shelter, and MHPSS.
On 31 July, the first United Nations-led humanitarian convoy to As-Sweida Governorate—facilitated by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and accompanied with the interagency mission— delivered essential humanitarian assistance to As-Sweida City. The convoy, comprising 40 trucks, was the largest ever sent to the city. The convoy included food, medical supplies including insulin, fuel, clean water, hygiene kits, shelter materials, and equipment to support hospitals, bakeries, and electricity infrastructure, aiming to restore essential services and support the resilience of affected populations. The team carried out a field visit to As-Sweida City and the districts of Shahba and Salkhad, engaging with local community representatives and partners to strengthen collaboration and gather insights. The visit also included site assessments at displacement locations and reception centres.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdelmoula, has issued a statement thanking the interim Government, stating that the United Nations remains committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the sustained, principled delivery of humanitarian assistance to all communities in need and to scale up further the response in As-Sweida and throughout Syria, where humanitarian needs remain severe.