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Syria

UNICEF Syria Humanitarian Situation Report No. 05, 20 January 2025

Attachments

Highlights

  • Nearly 210,000 Syrians have crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries since 8 December (as of 23 January 2025).
  • Over 25,000 people have been newly displaced from Menbij, eastern Aleppo, due to intensified fighting (as of 29 January 2025).
  • Over 68,700 children are out of school due to the usage of 133 schools as emergency collective centres hosting internally displaced people.
  • Water supply to Aleppo city remains limited, with the Al Khafsa water station operating at only half capacity since 3 January due to a shortage of operators and restricted access, caused by ongoing clashes and direct targeting of water facilities.
  • UNICEF’s rehabilitation for Ein Al Baida water station is being completed ensuring delivery of water for over 260,000 people in Al Bab city.
  • From 27 November 2024 to 20 January 2025, 58,976 individuals, including 44,634 children and 14,342 women, received primary health care (PHC) services.
  • In a press statement following his five-day visit to Syria, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director called for national and international efforts to secure Syria's future.

Funding Overview and Partnerships

UNICEF Syria's Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal for 2025 requires US$ 488 million. Currently, only 13 per cent of this amount has been secured.

UNICEF extends its gratitude to all its public and private partners for their support towards the response. This includes flexible humanitarian funding and core resources from both public and private partners, which enable it to respond to rising and sudden needs. Without additional resources, UNICEF’s ability to provide essential assistance to children will be hindered, leading to increased protection risks and impacting life-saving interventions.

Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs

The security situation remains volatile in parts of Syria, with the intensification of hostilities in eastern Aleppo Governorate, including Menbij, Ain al-Arab, and nearby villages around the Tishreen Dam. Civilian casualties, conflict-related violence, movement restrictions and other incidents have been reported in Aleppo, Coastal Areas, Dara’a, Hama, Homs, Quneitra and other governorates since 10 January. Continued hostilities and insecurity are damaging vital infrastructure and restricting access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and protection. In Quneitra Governorate, Israeli incursions have affected access to the key water reservoir Mantara Dam, Mount Hermon and affected children’s access to schools in at least two villages (Qahtaniah and Hamidiah). Hostilities persist in the north-eastern region of Syria, affecting eastern Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh and Ar-Raqqa, with reports of civilian casualties.

Unaddressed explosive ordnance (UXO) contamination remains a fatal threat across the country. Protection partners reported that at least 25 people were killed by UXO incidents, and 50 others injured, in the first week of January alone, with children being particularly vulnerable. Most incidents occurred in Deir-ez-Zor, Idleb, Aleppo, Rural Damascus, Hama, Al-Sweida and Dara’a governorates. From 15 to 20 January, at least four people were killed, and 15 others, including 5 children and 2 responders wounded, by landmine explosions in Aleppo, Idleb and Lattakia governorates, according to partners and local sources.

The lack of public services remains a grave concern across Syria. In Aleppo, non-functional public institutions are depriving people of access to civil and essential services in at least six sub-districts (Menbij, Tall Refaat, Al-Khafsa, Dayr Hafir, Maskana and Abu Qalqal). Prolonged insecurity and shelling, electricity and fuel shortages for generators, vehicles and heating, and restricted movements due to remnants of war continue to directly impact the delivery of health services across the country. Water supply to Aleppo city remains limited, with the Al Khafsa water station operating at only half capacity since 3 January due to a shortage of operators and restricted access, caused by ongoing clashes and direct targeting of water facilities. Additionally, more than 413,000 people in Menbij and Ain al-Arab have been without water and electricity for six weeks due to the Tishreen Dam being damaged and non-operational since 10 December. The fragile condition of the Al Khafsa water facilities now threatens access to water for over 3 million people in Aleppo city and its surrounding areas. Further, frequent power cuts to the thermal power plant have led to regular shutdowns of water facilities due to electricity outages. Areas in the eastern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, notably Bakara, Dahla, Shnan and Darnaj, also reported facing severe water shortages due to damage to numerous water stations from ongoing conflict. Between 8 and 11 January, hostilities affected eight water treatment plants in Deir-ez-Zor city, hindering humanitarian access and further reducing water supplies.

In the northeast of the country, education partners have warned that children could lose access to school for an entire academic year without additional support. Over 68,700 children are out of school due to the usage of 133 schools as emergency collective centres hosting internally displaced persons and public schools functioning with very low attendance (146 in Al-Hasakeh). In Menbij, Aleppo Governorate, 350 schools are still suspended due to hostilities, affecting over 126,000 students and 3,500 teachers. Furthermore, around 50 per cent of schools in Afrin, northern Aleppo, still do not have heating fuel, impacting children’s attendance. School attendance is also low in Damascus, according to education partners.

UNICEF conducted rapid needs assessments, using data from 188 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) from partners across all governorates. Respondents, 25 per cent of whom were from Aleppo Governorate, identified food, livelihood, health, and nutrition, security (protection), and education as priority needs. More than half of them highlighted challenges hindering children’s attendance at school, including child labour, economic reasons, and the absence or lack of teachers. The major problems faced by the population include the availability of doctors/nurses, medicines, and health facilities; potable water and water storage capacity; money to afford basic needs, such as food and medicine; psychological stress and fear; safety; and transportation issues due to rising fuel costs, which reduce access to safe spaces, health facilities, schools, and work.

In northeastern Syria, 24,600 internally displaced persons across 204 emergency centres are in urgent need of water, winter clothing, and mental health support. In the northwest, over 636,000 people are affected by the suspension of WASH services in 636 displacement camps due to a lack of funding. In a press statement following his five-day visit to Syria from 18 to 22 January, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director called for national and international efforts to secure Syria's future.

Population Movement

As of 27 January 2025, UNHCR estimates that more than 210,000 Syrians have crossed back to Syria since 8 December 2024. 60 per cent of the approximately 522,000 returnees since 27 November 2024 went to Aleppo Governorate and 28 per cent went to Hama Governorate. Movements out of camps in northwest Syria remain minimal. Overall, 37,700 people have left displacement camps across Idleb and northern Aleppo since 3 December, according to data provided by the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster.

Due to intensified fighting in the north-eastern region of Syria, over 25,000 people have been newly displaced from Menbij, eastern Aleppo. As a result, as of 27 January, the number of newly displaced people has increased from 627,000 people, recorded on 20 January, to 652,000. Overall, 7.4 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, and more than 6 million refugees are still abroad.

In north-east Syria, over 24,400 people remain in 199 emergency collective centres. Given the current strain, gradual returns, and high poverty levels, there is an upsurge of violence against children, child labour and high chances of child trafficking.