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Syria: Recent Violence and Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amid Displacement

A devastating explosion near the Turkish border earlier this week targeted a vehicle carrying seasonal agricultural workers. Reports indicate that at least 14 individuals, including 11 women and three children, lost their lives in this tragic incident.

This attack follows closely on the heels of another assault that occurred just days prior, which resulted in the deaths of four civilians and injured nine others, including six children. The recent bombing marks the seventh such incident within a span of just over a month, establishing it as the deadliest attack reported inside Syria since the Assad regime’s decline.

The region has seen ongoing conflicts between Turkish-backed factions and predominantly Kurdish forces, creating a volatile environment. As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the latest bombing.

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the need for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, conveying the message during a briefing in New York: “We reiterate that all parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians.” He further asserted that “Civilians and civilian infrastructure should never be targeted.”

Ongoing Displacement Crisis

In the midst of the violence, displacement continues to escalate, particularly in northeastern Syria, affecting areas such as eastern Aleppo, Al-Hasakeh, and Ar-Raqqa. Reports indicate that over 25,000 people have been forcibly uprooted from their homes due to ongoing military actions.

Shelling, airstrikes, and confrontations have wreaked havoc on communities, destroying homes, hospitals, and vital infrastructure as detailed in a humanitarian bulletin from the UN relief coordination office, OCHA.

Across Syria, the inadequacy of public services and funding constraints has hindered humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond effectively. In regions like Homs and Hama, residents experience electricity availability of only 45 to 60 minutes every eight hours, while in northwest Syria, over 100 health facilities have lacked funding since the start of 2024.

The United Nations and its partners have made an appeal for $1.2 billion to provide assistance to 6.7 million of Syria’s most vulnerable populations through March 2025.

Humanitarian Initiatives Underway

Despite facing significant obstacles, UN agencies and their partners remain committed to delivering aid and monitoring humanitarian conditions as security allows. A notable UN cross-border mission took place on February 3, facilitating an assessment of cash distribution efforts aimed at supporting communities in need.

“So far in 2025, we have completed 40 cross-border missions to Syria, primarily for project assessments and monitoring – nearly double the number of missions conducted at the same time last year,” Mr. Dujarric reported.

Additionally, on January 30, UN teams conducted an assessment mission in Sweida, located near the Jordanian border, marking a significant return for UN oversight in the area since October 2023. The evaluation revealed dire shortages of drinking water and irrigation resources, exacerbated by prolonged drought conditions.

Trends in Refugee Returns

Amid these challenges, a recent survey conducted by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reveals that 27 percent of Syrian refugees in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt are considering returning home within the next 12 months. This is a marked increase from the less than 2 percent who expressed similar intentions in April of the previous year.

Since the regime’s fall in December, over 210,000 Syrians have returned to their homeland, although many confront obstacles related to the destruction of property, inadequate infrastructure, and ongoing security threats.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Syria are also beginning to return to their homes, albeit in limited numbers. Approximately 57,000 IDPs, primarily single-family units and individuals, have relocated from camps since early December.

However, the situation remains dire for nearly two million individuals still residing in over 1,500 camps across Idlib and northern Aleppo, where safety concerns and a lack of essential services continue to complicate the return process.

Source
news.un.org