Attachments
SITUATION UPDATE
Across Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Al-Hassakeh, and Deir-ez-Zor Governorates, humanitarian needs remain high despite the 21 January ceasefire and its 15-day extension on 24 January. The priority humanitarian needs in these governorates include access to water and sanitation, basic services, child protection and winterisation support, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups.
Due to damage to the electricity infrastructure, an estimated one million people1 in Al-Hassakeh Governorate are affected by power and water outages, while around 500,000 people in Ain Al Arab/Kobane rely entirely on generators for electricity and water. Access to safe water is increasingly constrained, forcing households to rely on expensive water trucking services, while the most vulnerable resort to non-potable water sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and other public health concerns.
Recent clashes and the displacement of families, coupled with the release of children from juvenile detention centres, have created urgent humanitarian needs for psychosocial support, case management, and services for unaccompanied and separated children. Many of these children are at heightened risk of exploitation, abuse, and neglect, while affected families struggle to meet basic protection and care needs.
The humanitarian situation in Al-Hol camp remains fragile but relatively stable, with increased humanitarian access inside the camp. Despite the resumption of life-saving services (water, bread, food distribution, health services, child protection), camp residents report remaining unmet needs and uncertainty about future prospects.
As of 25 January, more than 170,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) are recorded across 178 communities in 27 sub-districts of Aleppo, Al-Hassakeh, and Ar-Raqqa Governorates. Qamishli hosts around 97,900 IDPs, followed by 32,000 in Al-Malikiyyeh District. Camps including Newroz, Areesha, and Sere Kaniye continue to face overcrowding, service gaps, and onward movements. In Al-Hassakeh Governorate, volatile conditions have triggered preemptive displacement, while over 30,000 people have recently departed collective centres in Ar-Raqqa and Tabqa and are now mainly sheltering in host communities in Qamishli and surrounding areas.2 Around 200 schools are still being used as shelters in Al-Hassakeh Governorate, straining the education system and highlighting the risks of continued, protracted displacement. These IDPs, especially in collective shelters, are left without essential sanitation supplies, while latrines – particularly in schools used as shelters – remain in critical condition and require rehabilitation to ensure safe and dignified access.
Harsh winter weather has further deepened vulnerabilities. Between 22 and 24 January, a major storm brought heavy snowfall, freezing temperatures, strong winds, and flooding across several northern Governorates, compounding the impacts of the 31 December storm, which already affected over 158,000 IDPs. In Aleppo and Idleb Governorates, 37 camps hosting 2,800 people were affected, with hundreds of shelters destroyed, either partially or completely. Snow and ice rendered multiple key roads impassable. In Ain Al Arab/Kobane and Qamishli (among the hardest-hit areas), the storms have intensified urgent winterisation needs, including heating fuel, insulated shelters, warm clothing, and other cold-weather support.
Humanitarian response and coordination continue under challenging conditions. UNICEF and partners are scaling up support by providing supplies in Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez-Zor, and Al-Hassakeh, in coordination with the authorities, and by launching rapid assessments to enable the restoration of critical services and anticipate further displacement from areas of ongoing conflict. Ongoing insecurity, fluid frontlines, and limited access remain the main constraints to timely and safe humanitarian operations.
Humanitarian access remains constrained due to damaged infrastructure, movement restrictions, explosive ordnance contamination, and ongoing security concerns, limiting scale-up of assistance despite improved coordination for registration and outreach to families in host communities. Recent changes in local administration are also disrupting service delivery, despite improved coordination.
UNICEF calls all parties to the conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law, including taking all feasible measures to protect civilians and especially the most vulnerable, including children, and to respect and protect healthcare facilities, schools, water, sanitation, and electricity infrastructure, and to refrain from attacks that cause civilian harm.