Highlights
Deteriorating protection situation for civilians across Syria
Several indiscriminate attacks on medical facilities, schools and critical infrastructure in Aleppo city
Provisional cessation of hostilities agreement extended to cover Aleppo
IDP settlements in Idleb governorate hit by strikes
Continued delivery of cross-line assistance despite pending or conditional approval from GoS for humanitarian access to some besieged and hard-to-reach areas
Humanitarian response appeals remain underfunded during first four months of 2016
Growing insecurity inside Syria is endangering humanitarian workers
13.5 M People in Need
13.5 M Targeted for assistance
6.5 M Internally displaced
4.8 M Refugees in neighbouring countries
Situation Overview
The situation in Syria during the reporting period was characterised by an intensification of fighting in Aleppo city, breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) by parties to the conflict, and deteriorating protection of civilians and vulnerable groups. In this context, humanitarian efforts continued through regular programmes, cross-border deliveries and cross-line assistance to besieged and hard-to-reach locations throughout the country.
An escalation of violence in the past two weeks in Aleppo city has resulted in the death and injury of hundreds of civilians, including women and children. According to the Department of Health in Aleppo, since 23 April from 5 May, 59 men, 24 women and 38 children were killed in GoS-controlled western Aleppo, and an additional 1,000 were injured, an estimated one third of which are in a critical condition. The Syrian Civil Defense, which operates in nonstate armed group (NSAG)-held east Aleppo city, stated that as of 30 April, 106 men, 43 women and 40 children had been killed and at least 400 people wounded by airstrikes since 22 April. Total casualty figures have not been verified by the UN. Critical civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, public health centres, ambulances, schools, NGO offices and water treatment plants have suffered from indiscriminate attacks. These apparent violations of IHL and IHRL witnessed in Aleppo city elicited strong condemnation from the humanitarian community and forced a number of humanitarian actors to at least temporarily suspend relief activities due to insecurity.
On 5 May, Al-Kamoneh IDP settlement southeast of Sarmada in Idleb was attacked, resulting 30 deaths, 80 injuries, and the destruction of tents and facilities at the settlement. Fearing further attacks, affected IDP families have sought refuge in surrounding rural areas and proximate towns, with over 2,000 IDPs having abandoned the camp by the end of the reporting period. While some have returned to the settlement, others may not fearing future attacks, and humanitarian partners have mobilised a response and initiated discussions on the establishment a new settlement near the Syrian-Turkish border.
Growing insecurity continues to endanger the delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Syria. During the reporting period, several security incidents involving humanitarian workers were recorded.