Highlights
Alarming situation as hundreds of thousands of people trapped in eastern Aleppo
Russian Federation proposes “humanitarian corridor” initiative for Aleppo
Re-establishing access to Aleppo and replenishing life-saving assistance key
Tens of thousands of residents remain trapped in Menbij town
2.1 million children in Syria not enrolled in school
Cross-border operations from Jordan into southern Syria resume
Situation Overview
Since the closure of Castello Road, an estimated 250,000 – 275,000 people remain trapped in ‘de facto besieged’ eastern Aleppo City cut off from humanitarian aid. The lack of safety, freedom of movement and access to humanitarian/commercial goods remain of grave concern. Every neighbourhood of eastern and western Aleppo City has come under fire, as reported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Syria.
On 28 July, the Russian Federation announced humanitarian corridors (Layramoun Roundabout, Boustan Al Qaser, Sayf Al Dawleh and Sheikh Saeed) to provide an opportunity for civilians to leave the city.
On the same day, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC), Stephen O’Brien, stated protection must be guaranteed for all according to the principles of neutrality and impartiality. He noted that the proposed corridors must be guaranteed by all sides and proposed an immediate establishment of a weekly, 48-hour humanitarian pause for assistance to reach civilians in eastern Aleppo City and other hard-to-reach areas in Syria.
According to the Syrian Civil Defense, at least 235 people have been killed in eastern Aleppo City since 7 July, and scores have been wounded. On 2 August, the UN’s Children Fund (UNICEF) reported that 25,000 civilians, including 12,000 children fled affected neighbourhoods in western Aleppo. The Directorate of Civil Defense in Aleppo Governorate raised the emergency state to the highest level in the western countryside due to intensified airstrikes in the area on 31 July.
The humanitarian impact of the deteriorating situation has not only been limited to civilian lives, but includes also vital civilian infrastructure such as medical facilities and NGO warehouses. On 30 July, airstrikes struck a hospital in Andan town, while on 31 July, the only blood bank in Atareb town was hit, in addition to four flour mills, now inoperable. On 23 and 24 July, airstrikes rendered the Al-Bayan, Al-Hakim, Zahraa and Al-Daqaq hospitals in eastern Aleppo City temporarily out of operation. During July, the Aleppo National Museum was exposed to shelling causing a partial destruction of the ceiling in different parts of the museum in addition to large damage to the infrastructure.
Moreover, a warehouse belonging to a UN partner was struck by airstrikes destroying 100 food parcels and 100 flour bags in Aleppo. However, pre-positioned food stocks remain available for 145,000 people in eastern Aleppo City. Reportedly, only one of two milling facilities is operational. However, civilians facing long waiting hours at the bakeries are increasingly exposed to shelling. Reportedly, at least 50 bakeries across the city remain functional. However, on 25 July, the last remaining bakery in East Al Ansari area in eastern Aleppo City was closed due to lack of flour.
Within eastern Aleppo City, shortages in food supplies and significant price increases were observed shortly after the closure of the Castello Road. The price of fuel has reportedly tripled, while it is urgently required to keep water pumps and medical facilities running. Amid these developments, all civilian movement on the Castello Road has come to a standstill. The highest priority remains to re-establish access to eastern Aleppo City, through both cross - line convoys from western Aleppo and cross-border operations from Turkey to replenish critical life-saving assistance like food, medical supplies and fuel.
The humanitarian situation in Menbij town and the surrounding areas in eastern Aleppo Governorate is of utmost concern. An estimated that 30,000 – 40,000 people have been trapped in the town since 10 July. Since 31 May, more than 78,000 have fled their homes due to ongoing hostilities. No humanitarian or commercial goods have reached the town.
In response to the worsening situation, the Turkey Humanitarian Fund launched an Emergency Reserve Allocation of US$10million across five clusters ($2 million each for water/sanitation, camp coordination, health, non - food items and food security) with the objective to pre-position emergency supplies for Menbij, Aleppo and Idleb, while awaiting improved access to those areas. On 22 July, aerial bombardment on Duma city in Rural Damascus hit the city’s central market. Following the attack on the main water pipeline in Barada Valley supplying Damascus on 24 July, the Water Authority reportedly gradually restored water supply into Damascus on 26 July. Reportedly, roads to Barada Valley - previously closed on 24 July - were partially re-opened.
Over 12,000 people have fled Idleb into neighbouring districts following increased bombardment of civilian infrastructure. On 27 July, three barrel bombs were dropped on Salqin town in the northern countryside of Idleb Governorate, which injured nine people and destroyed civilian houses and commercial shops. A number of villages in Idleb Governorate were struck multiple times by aerial attacks, including the last functioning bakery in Binnish town (serving 70,000 people) that was rendered inoperable.
On 27 July, an explosion struck Quamishli town in Al Hasakeh Governorate, killing at least 43 people and wounding dozens. Airlifts into Quamishli with humanitarian supplies were not affected by the incident. On 26 July, the Al-Zara power plant in southern Hama Governorate reportedly went out of service after being hit by several rockets. In besieged Daraya town in Rural Damascus, an estimated 4,000 civilians are cut off from water and agricultural land due to continued fighting.