The Whole of Syria Flash Update No. 1 - Recent Escalation in Northern Syria (As of 3 December 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The on-going hostilities in the northern parts of Syria continue to put at serious risk the safety and security of civilians and humanitarian workers, as well as the integrity of civilian infrastructures. The situation is also severely disrupting the on-going humanitarian operation.

• Thousands have been forced to flee their houses and seek refuge with host families and in collective shelters, putting additional pressures on already vulnerable receiving communities and strained local capacities and basic services.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The security situation in Syria remains volatile, unpredictable, and rapidly evolving in many parts of the country, particularly in the northern and northwestern regions. Escalating hostilities continue to impact civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian access and operations.

Since 27 November, frontline dynamics have been shifting daily, with escalating hostilities in western rural Aleppo Governorate quickly reaching Aleppo City, extending into the northern and eastern countryside, as well as into Idleb and Hama Governorates. Shelling and airstrikes continue to be reported across the Idleb governorate and northern Aleppo. Such high kinetics activities threaten the lives and livelihood of civilians, particularly those trapped in frontline areas who are unable to reach safer locations, access basic services, nor humanitarian assistance.

Within a week of escalating hostilities, at least 69 civilians, including 26 children and 11 women, were killed in north-west Syria. At least 228 others were reportedly injured, including 88 children and 53 women or nearly two-thirds of the total number. Most have sustained multiple shrapnel wounds.

The first two days of December have been the most violent in Idleb since the start of the escalation. Repeated airstrikes have killed civilians and hit camps, a water station, schools and numerous health facilities, including one of the main hospitals in Idleb city.

Since 1 December, significant number of people have been leaving Aleppo via the Khanaser-Atharaya road in southern Aleppo Governorate. The Damascus-Aleppo Highway (M-5) remains reportedly inaccessible between Saraqab City (Idleb) and Aleppo. Population movements from Tal Refaat to northwest and northeast Syria have also been reported while other displacements have been recorded towards Damascus, Rural Damascus, Hama, Homs, Lattakia, and Tartous Governorates.

Public services and critical facilities in Aleppo, including hospitals, bakeries, power stations, water, internet, and telecommunications, are either disrupted or non-functioning due to shortages of supplies and personnel.