Highlights
Inter-agency cross-line humanitarian convoy to Big Orem attacked
Government declares end to week-long Cessation of Hostilities (CoH)
Improved humanitarian access into western Aleppo City
Two cross-border convoys reach 162,000 civilians in need
Evacuations from Al Wa’er postponed
Older Syrians three times more likely to display psychological stress
Situation Overview
On 19 September, the United Nations/Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) convoy was hit in Big Orem, northwest of Aleppo City. Initial reports indicate that 20 people have been killed, including one SARC volunteer, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). A SARC warehouse was also hit and a SARC health clinic was also reportedly severely damaged. The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, condemned the attacks, calling for an immediate investigation into this incident. He also stressed that all parties must facilitate regular and sustained access to families in all the besieged and hard-to-reach areas across the country, through both cross-line and cross-border routes. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer stated the incident was a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and deprived millions of people of aid essential to their survival.
On the same day, the CoH, in place since 12 September, was declared over by the Government of Syria (GoS). Following this, airstrikes reportedly struck Al-Saliheen, Al-Ferdous, Al-Marjeh, Al-Myasar, Al-Qaterji, Al-Sukari and Al-Maadi, reportedly killing 25 people and injuring several others in eastern Aleppo City. Up to 275,000 civilians remain trapped in eastern Aleppo City without food, water, proper shelter or medical care.
Regarding Al-Waer, on 4 September, civilian movement through Al-Shou’n entry point resumed, and 4,000 bread bundles were delivered to the area. On 18 September, 32 of the biggest non-state armed groups (NSAGs) in Syria and the National Coalition issued a joint statement rejecting the Al-Waer evacuation agreement between the GoS and Al-Wa’er local committees, saying this would violate the CoH. This notwithstanding, 255 fighters and family members were evacuated to Northern Rural Homs on 22 September, with plans to evacuate another group to Idleb in the coming days.
Humanitarian partners have not been able to reach eastern Aleppo City since clashes started on 7 July. On 6 September, barrel bombs were reported on Al-Sukkari neighbourhood, allegedly containing chlorine gas. The attack resulted in at least 130 suffocation cases, two of whom died the following days. On 7 September, airstrikes also struck a local market in the same neighbourhood, killing 20 people and injuring another 45 people. Since 10 September, normal civilian and commercial movements has resumed on Ramousseh–Khanaser route between Homs / Damascus and western Aleppo City. As of 17 September, electricity supply was restored to most of Aleppo city, including minimally to eastern parts for the first time in over two months and to the water pumping stations.
Meanwhile, on 4 September, Ar-Ra’ee was reconnected with Jarablus in north - eastern Aleppo Governorate, making humanitarian access to Jarablus and Menbij districts through the Bab Al-Salam border crossing point more likely.