Highlights
Hundreds of thousands of civilians in eastern Aleppo City cut off from humanitarian assistance
Tens of thousands of civilians trapped in Menbij as fighting continues
Multiple attacks on hospitals in Aleppo and Idleb governorates
Airlifts of humanitarian supplies to Qamishli commence
An estimated 2.9 million children aged 5 and under know nothing but conflict
One out of three children under five not reached by routine vaccination
Cross-border operations from Jordan into southern Syria to resume
Situation Overview
Concern is growing over the plight of upwards of 300,000 civilians in Aleppo, following escalating violence in and around the city. Since 7 July, heavy clashes between the Government of Syria (GoS) forces and Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) have rendered the Castello road, the last remaining access road in and out of eastern Aleppo City, impassable. Since then, Government and Kurdish forces have reportedly gained control of the majority of Castello road, cutting off humanitarian, commercial and civilian movement in and out of eastern Aleppo City, and placing hundreds of thousands of people closer to the line of fire and at risk of besiegement. The UN and partners in east Aleppo had enough food supplies for 145,000 people for one month, at the time the road was no longer passable for humanitarian movement, and are urgently working on a response to meet increasing needs. According to the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), airstrikes escalated in recent months.
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) offensive to take Menbij town has continued for almost two months.
Conditions for the civilian populations trapped in the town remain a major concern as eectricity, water and fuel are reportedly unavailable. Some people who left the town reported that ISIL fighters threatened to kill anyone who attempts to leave.
Multiple attacks on hospitals in Aleppo and Idleb Governorates were reported between 11 and 16 July resulting in significant structural damages, injuring medical staff and rendering facilities temporarily non-functional.
On 11 July, Al-Shifa hospital supported by a local nongovernmental organization in Idleb was reportedly hit, resulting in the deaths of three civilians. The hospital, which was providing an average of 2,065 outpatient consultations and 86 major surgeries, has, however, resumed operations.
On 14 July, the Kafr Hamra Field Hospital in northern rural Aleppo governorate was significantly damaged and one person was killed and several others wounded in the attack. Health care services are now suspended and the hospital is non-functional. Additionally, a nearby ambulance belonging to a local ambulatory system was destroyed during the attack and a driver injured.