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highlights
Every week, we publish new highlights on recent humanitarian developments to enable crisis responders to prioritise based on the needs of affected populations.
04/12/2024
Syria
By 4 December 2024, hostilities between the Syrian army and opposition armed groups, notably Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, had intensified for a seventh consecutive day. Opposition armed groups have captured Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city, and are advancing into Hama city. Main routes in northwestern Syria are blocked, hindering humanitarian access and trapping civilians in conflict zones. The hostilities involve bombing and shelling, as well as Russian air strikes supporting the Syrian army, resulting in civilian casualties. Initial estimates indicate that at least 11,100 families (approximately 68,000 people) had been displaced by 2 December, though specific numbers remain unverified. Essential services such as healthcare, food, and water supply have been disrupted in Aleppo, Hama, and Idleb governorates. Humanitarian operations in those areas have also been severely disrupted. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent and Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets) continue to provide assistance in their respective operational areas. (UNSC 03/12/2024, SARD 03/12/2024, OCHA 02/12/2024)
03/12/2024
Burundi
Burundi faces a critical combination of malnutrition and a rapidly escalating Mpox outbreak. Between June 2024 and May 2025, an estimated 484,000 children ages six months to five years are projected to experience acute malnutrition, more than double since 2022. 85,000 are expected to experience severe acute malnutrition, a concerning 44% increase compared to the March 2022 to February 2023 projection. The Mpox outbreak, declared a state of emergency on 25 July 2024, is aggravating the situation. The clade 1b strain is spreading quickly, disproportionately affecting children under five, who account for nearly 30% of the 2,050 confirmed cases. Malnourished children living in areas with inadequate sanitation and limited healthcare are particularly vulnerable, with Mpox mortality rates among children reported to be four times higher than those among adults. The outbreak has further aggravated food insecurity as families divert resources to care for affected members. (IPC 19/11/2024, UNICEF 25/11/2024, WHO 02/12/2024)
01/12/2024
Pakistan
Pakistan has been facing challenges in running a wild poliovirus type 1 vaccination programme for numerous reasons, including historical distrust of foreign healthcare providers, lack of awareness, and attacks on vaccination teams. Since the beginning of 2024, militant groups carried out at least 23 attacks against polio teams and security escorts. Until 3 December, 59 positive cases of polio had been reported within the year, much higher than 6 throughout 2023. In September alone, more than one million children missed their vaccination doses. The Government is planning to conduct the next mass vaccination programme in mid-December, with the goal of reaching 44 million children. (Govt. Pakistan 03/12/2024, AJ 01/11/2024, CNN 21/10/2024)
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