Highlights
According to the Camp Management and Camp Coordination (CCCM) cluster at least 123,842 people have been displaced in Aleppo, Hama and Idleb governorates between 05 October and 30 October 2015.
The road from Hama to Aleppo remains cut since 23 October, putting at risk an estimated 700,000 people living in government-controlled areas of the city.
Aerial attacks on medical facilities and staff continued as the hospitals in Maarat al-Nu’man (Idleb) and in Kafr Zeita (Idleb) were reportedly hit during last week.
Humanitarian partners have scaled up to meet assessed needs but gaps remain particularly in provision of NFI and shelter kits, and provision of health, WASH and education services in IDP camps due to a combination of insufficient funding, procurement timelines and access challenges.
A total of 400,000 beneficiaries will be targeted with assistance in five clusters (Health, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Food Security and Livelihoods, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Non-Food Items and Shelter) through the US$10 million Humanitarian Pooled Fund Emergency Allocation.
The map below demonstrates active frontlines and major IDP flight routes in Aleppo, Idleb and Hama:
Situation Overview
Free Syrian Army affiliated opposition groups staged a number of counter offensives over the last week in response to the ongoing Government of Syria (GoS) offensive in the southern countryside of Aleppo. As a result of further escalation in violence and intensified air strikes around the southern perimeter of Aleppo city, 5,790 people (approximately 1,126 households) have been displaced over the past week mostly from areas of GoS advances including Jabel Azzan town and villages in the Tel el-Damaan area. According to the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster, this brings the total number of IDPs displaced since mid-October in Aleppo governorate to 50,358. According to humanitarian organizations operational in Southern Aleppo, most IDPs are living with host families and in temporary and makeshift settlements in the countryside.
Meanwhile, GoS forces have fortified areas around newly seized villages in northern Hama and are reportedly preparing to launch a new offensive from Atshan towards southern Idleb. Heavy GoS shelling and rocket attacks have been reported around the al-Nusra Front stronghold of Khan Shaykhoun and GoS and allies forces’ airstrikes have been constant over the past week. Likewise, local sources report fighting has escalated in Hamra sub-district in northern rural of Hama governorate and Madiq Castle sub-district in northern western rural Hama between GoS forces and allies and non-state opposition armed groups. Due to protracted violence and increased air attacks in the Jabel al-Zawiyeh, Hamra and Madiq Castle areas,, the recent wave of displacement that has been witnessed over the last month has steadily increased to almost 73,484 people as verified by the CCCM cluster, while a number of local humanitarian organizations report higher figures. Most IDPs have fled to Kafr Nabool. Heish, Maarat al-Nu’man, and surrounding towns with some IDPs already experiencing multiple displacement. Most IDP camps have reached full capacity and cannot accommodate new arrivals. Finding adequate shelter for IDPs has become a priority for agencies as temperatures in Syria begin to drop. Most families have had to share tents due to a lack of shelter supplies, while others are living in communal areas such as schools, mosques and unfinished buildings.
Idleb and Hama
Aerial bombardment combined with ground offensives over the month of October resulted in large-scale displacement throughout both governorates. The CCCM cluster has recently reported that at least 80,569 people were displaced in Idleb and Hama from 10 to 31 October. However, local humanitarian organizations working in these areas indicate that this number could be well over 100,000 people. According to health organizations operational in Idleb, airstrikes hit two medical facilities in Maarat al-Nu’man (Idleb) on 24 October and in Kafr Zeita (Idleb) on 26 October bringing the total number of attacked health facilities in Idleb and Hama in October 2015 to four. The aerial attack on the Kafr Zeita medical facility caused significant damage rendering it out of service. Likewise, medical staff were killed and wounded while equipment and drug supplies were also degraded. Aerial attacks near the Maarat al- Nu’man health facility caused some minor damage and the hospital remains functional.
The majority of IDPs have settled in locations away from intense fighting and concentrated air attacks, but still in close proximity to their original towns and villages. Most IDPs live with host families or in the open air around Kafr Naboodeh in Hama, Kafr Nabool, and Heish towns in Idleb. According to local partners, some families have also moved from northern rural Hama to Hama City. If fighting does not cease, many will be forced to seek shelter in other areas experiencing secondary displacement. Most IDP camps in Idleb have reached their full capacity and can no longer accommodate new arrivals. New camps are being established according to SPHERE guidelines and the “do no harm” principles.
Aleppo
Due to intense fighting around southern Aleppo countryside, most prominently in al-Wadiheh, Khan Touman and Abdin, according to the CCCM cluster, at least 50,358 people have fled al-Hader, Tel ed-Daman and Jebel Saman sub districts towards towns and villages in the western countryside of Aleppo from 15 to 30 October. Local sources report that people are vacating villages and towns due to the ongoing fighting. Most IDPs have fled to Atareb, Qanater, and Tel Ed-Daman towns in the western countryside, with the majority of families fleeing to Zerbeh town and villages located in the sub-district.
While the main access route from Hama to Aleppo Western City remains cut since 23 October, as of 29 October, ISIL militants managed to exert control over a stretch of at least 15km along the highway from Hama to western Aleppo City. This in effect severed the last remaining flight route for some 700,000 people living in GoS-controlled western Aleppo. This highway is a vital supply route for the GoS as it links up with Hama, Homs and Damascus governorates and is primarily used to transport commercial supplies and humanitarian aid.
During the reporting period, health partners reported one confirmed aerial attack against health facilities in Aleppo. This brings the number of confirmed aerial attacks against health facilities in Aleppo to four in October 2015. While there have been other reported attacks against health facilities, these are yet to be independently verified. According to an NGO active in mine action, cluster munitions are being used against civilians in Aleppo (as well as Hama and Idleb) and many civilians have been injured. Humanitarian partners are working to collect more information on such cases and to verify these attacks.