Background:

Recent developments in Syria, including the escalation in hostilities, have added to humanitarian needs in a country where more than 16 million people already required humanitarian assistance.

Since 28 November, approximately one million people – most of them women and children – have experienced displacement from a range of areas, including Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Idleb governorates. More than one in five people are being displaced for at least the second time. Significant and growing return movements have also begun to be reported since 7 December.

Many internally displaced persons (IDPs) have arrived in cities and towns near conflictaffected areas, where reception centres and shelters have been established. Reception centers are overcrowded, and resources are limited, making it difficult to meet the needs of all displaced persons. Nevertheless, emergency aid, including tents, blankets, and food, has been distributed. Protection services, including support for women and children, and health services like nutrition screenings and medical consultations, are being provided. Efforts are underway to improve sanitation and hygiene facilities in shelters and reception centers to prevent diseases outbreak and ensure basic living standards for IDPs. There is an urgent need for more shelter, food, non-food items, and sanitation facilities. Expanding protection services and health support, particularly for vulnerable groups, is also critical.

Conflict and insecurity have disrupted critical transportation routes, limiting the movement of people and goods, and also affecting the delivery of aid. Some looting of civilian properties and factories, as well as warehouses holding humanitarian supplies has been reported.

The unofficial exchange rate hit a record high, reaching SYP25000/$1 in Damascus and SYP41,000/$1 in Aleppo. Commodity prices have increased sharply with reports of shortages of goods in Damascus.

Humanitarian Situation Overview:

Since the escalation of hostilities on November 28, approximately one million people have been displaced internally. This includes 155,000 people experiencing secondary displacement. The majority of those displaced are women and children, with women and girls comprising nearly 50 percent of those forced to flee their homes. The most affected governorates are Aleppo, with 542,600 displaced people, followed by Hama (347,100) and Homs (26,000).

Since the fall of the Government in Damascus on 8 December, clashes have been reported in Manbij (Aleppo Governorate) and Deir-ez-Zor, with less fighting reported in other areas. Conflict has damaged civilian infrastructure and humanitarian assets, and disrupted services, in northeast Syria. Around 185 schools in Raqqa, Al-Hasaka, and Tabqa have been repurposed as shelters for IDPs, disrupting education for nearly 185,000 students. Healthcare services are under strain, with hospitals like Ar-Raqqa National and Maternity Hospitals preparing for increased patient loads due to the influx of displaced individuals. WASH services are also impacted, with efforts underway to provide WASH facilities in collective centers. Additionally, the displacement has overwhelmed transit sites, highlighting the urgent need for winterization supplies, communal cooking facilities, and core relief items to support vulnerable populations. Hostilities along the road between Qamishli and Damascus have been hindering population movement and the transportation of humanitarian shipments.

This has made it difficult to deliver essential aid to affected areas. Additionally, the capacity of reception centers in cities like Ar-Raqqa and Tabqa is limited, and these shelters, often converted sports centers and schools, are overcrowded with displaced people. These facilities urgently require additional resources, including WASH facilities, tents, food, and non-food items to meet the growing demand.

Humanitarian Impact:

Protection: The security situation remains fluid, with concerns about lawlessness and theft, new displacement continues, with reports of people moving from Damascus to Lattakia, Tartous on the coast, and Tabqa in the north-east. The ongoing displacement exacerbates the vulnerabilities of affected populations, with displaced families facing heightened protection risks such as psychological distress, limited access to essential services, and challenges to their safety. Vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, infants, and the elderly, are particularly at risk. The fear of child separation has grown among families amid the ongoing crisis.

Food Security and Agriculture: The value of the local currency has declined sharply, with the exchange rate increasing from 15,800 SYP to 30,000 SYP to the dollar on average in Syria, and to 40,000 SYP to the dollar in Aleppo by 7 December. Food prices have risen dramatically, with shortages reported in Homs, Hama, Damascus, and Rural Damascus. People in these regions stockpiled food, and many shops have been closed. Displaced populations across Syria urgently need food assistance, including over 524,000 bread distributions and over 12,000 ready-to-eat meals (RTE’s). In North-west Syria, distribution efforts were disrupted, and many people feared leaving affected areas.

Health: Intensified hostilities have severely impacted the health system, particularly in Aleppo, Idleb, and other affected areas. Health facilities have been overwhelmed, with major hospitals operating at limited capacity due to shortages of staff, medicines, and supplies. Over 30 health partners suspended services, and 19 attacks on health services were reported, harming health workers. Blood banks, dialysis centers, and ambulances are non-functional due to the impact of hostilities and underfunding.

There is a rise in health issues, including acute watery diarrhea and suspected cholera, exacerbating vulnerabilities in overcrowded IDP centers.

Nutrition: A Rapid Needs Assessment by the Nutrition Working Group in northeast Syria found a 10% GAM rate among IDPs, indicating medium malnutrition levels. Feeding challenges include a lack of cooking utensils, poor hygiene, and limited food variety, which are exacerbating breastfeeding difficulties. Immediate action is needed to address malnutrition and improve feeding practices.

WASH: Access to water, sanitation, waste services, and hygiene items is limited due to service disruptions, affecting displaced populations and residents, particularly women and children in collective centers hosting IDPs. Public health risks are rising. Some partners in previously government-controlled areas have ceased operations. Theft of equipment in rural Aleppo has worsened access to water, potentially impacting public populations.

Logistics: Transporters face significant challenges using major roads outside of Damascus due to insecurity and uncertain fuel supplies. Many transportation companies have declined business to avoid commandeering for military efforts.

Early recovery and livelihood programs have resumed in Northern Aleppo, but in Idleb, most remain suspended, leaving 125,000 people without essential livelihoods support. Straining local economies and livelihoods in Raqqa, Tabqa, and Al-Hasaka. Disrupted livelihoods, especially in agriculture, have increased dependency on humanitarian aid.

Needs and Gaps:

The need for enhanced explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and expanded mine clearance efforts is pressing, especially in newly established displacement sites and high-risk areas. Teams must be deployed to clear critical infrastructure, such as roads, to ensure safe passage for civilians and aid workers.

Additional resources are required for the rapid deployment of clearance teams and victim assistance programs to address the persistent threats posed by explosive remnants of war.

Food Security and Agriculture:

• Bread Severe shortage: with only limited humanitarian distribution, bread shortages are critical, particularly in Homs, where immediate supply needs are pressing. New areas of control in Hama have seen a limited response, with a focus on bread and flour distribution, flour to operate and support ovens. İn addition to ready-made bread is purchased from ovens in Azaz and Idlib and distributed in Aleppo in neighborhoods where ovens do not operate.
• Rising food prices have created urgent needs across Damascus, Rural Damascus, Lattakia, Tartous, and Deir-ez-Zor, with populations needing bread, hot meals, RTEs, and regular food baskets.
• Ready-made foods and special meals for hospitals for workers and patients. The return of displaced populations is reliant on supporting agriculture and livestock to rebuild livelihoods. Further assistance is required in emerging IDPhosting areas, with a focus on food distribution and supporting long-term food security solutions.

Health: Health services face severe shortages of specialized staff, medicines, anesthesia, and surgical kits. Hospitals struggle to access supplies, and emergency services are underfunded and overwhelmed.

Ambulance services are limited by fuel shortages, and trauma care capacity is insufficient. There is a critical lack of water and transportation, further complicated access to healthcare and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. There are critical gaps in healthcare services, with limited access to medical care in some displacement sites. Additional resources are needed to expand health services, including the distribution of medical supplies and increased capacity to handle the rising number of patients, Medicines of various types (antibiotics - anesthesia and surgical drugs - children's medicines ...)

WASH: Hosting centers are facing severe shortages of water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Immediate resource mobilization is necessary to scale up the response. Returnees from Türkiye and within the north-west need assessment to understand WASH service needs. The priority is to ensure the continuation of essential systems and support technical work, power, and maintenance to prevent service gaps and humanitarian consequences. There are significant gaps in water and sanitation services, particularly in newly established displacement sites. Additional support is needed for water trucking, facility rehabilitation, and hygiene promotion to reduce health risks in overcrowded centers, Water pumping stations shut down, leading to a depletion of stored water.

Women hygiene kits and baby diapers on one of the most urgent needs for women and children.

Logistics: Access to northeastern Syria is constrained. Insecurity and issues like rising fuel costs, fluctuations in exchange rates and national highway congestion further delay shipments and reduce available aid.

Early Recovery and Livelihoods: Explosive hazards in Aleppo and airstrikes in Idleb have disrupted recovery efforts, while market instability, rising prices, and limited goods further strain vulnerable households. 6,000 households in Tabqa in urgent need of assistance. Additional resources are required to scale up cash interventions and support emerging IDP-hosting areas.

About This Appeal

This is IBC's first Emergency Response Appeal for Syria following the regime change on 8 December. It identifies a financial requirement of approximately $ 5 Million USD to meet the critical and minimum needs for the Escalating hostilities in Syria affected people of whom IDPs constitute the majority. The appeal aims to provide lifesaving services and prevent further loss of life considering the ongoing situation. We do appeal to our donors and the humanitarian community at large to contribute to funding this appeal to save lives. However, it is of equal importance to mention that for the needs highlighted in this appeal to be met properly, there should a safe and sustained access to all people in need.

In this flash appeal we will address the needs as below:

Implementation Methodology:

IBC has proven experience and history in responding to large-scale emergencies. We are going to use our expertise to respond to the emergency in Syria. Our program will be implemented directly through our teams on the ground or through our partners who were present in Syria even before this current crisis. Based on the identified needs.

Together, we can bring hope and relief to the people of Syria during this time of immense hardship

For further information, queries about this appeal and offer of help, you can reach to: