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Country analysis

Syria


Syria is facing multiple crises. The Syrian civil war that started in 2011 has displaced more than 14 million people, producing one of the largest displacement crises in the world. More than 306,000 civilians, or 1.5% of the total Syrian population, have died. There are around 6.9 million people internally displaced by the conflict, with 3.37 million living in inadequate shelters.

On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes, one of magnitude 7.8 and another of 7.6, consecutively hit southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria. Another 6.3 magnitude earthquake then hit the same region on 20 February. The areas most affected by the earthquakes are the same ones most affected by the conflict. As at 6 March, in Syria, the earthquakes had led to the deaths of at least 5,900 people, injured more than 12,000, and damaged 10,000 buildings, aggravating the humanitarian conditions in the already conflict-affected Northwest Syria.

Syria is also facing an economic crisis, which began when the conflict erupted and then accelerated from late 2019 as a result of the combined impact of US sanctions, COVID-19, the collapse of the financial system in neighbouring Lebanon, and the increase in the prices of oil shipments from Iran.

(UN 28/06/2022, Reuters 28/06/2022, OCHA 22/02/2022, UNFPA 03/03/2023, WFP 31/05/2021)

Syria is facing multiple crises. The Syrian civil war that started in 2011 has displaced more than 14 million people, producing one of the largest displacement crises in the world. More than 306,000 civilians, or 1.5% of the total Syrian population, have died. There are around 6.9 million people internally displaced by the conflict, with 3.37 million living in inadequate shelters.

On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes, one of magnitude 7.8 and another of 7.6, consecutively hit southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria. Another 6.3 magnitude earthquake then hit the same region on 20 February. The areas most affected by the earthquakes are the same ones most affected by the conflict. As at 6 March, in Syria, the earthquakes had led to the deaths of at least 5,900 people, injured more than 12,000, and damaged 10,000 buildings, aggravating the humanitarian conditions in the already conflict-affected Northwest Syria.

Syria is also facing an economic crisis, which began when the conflict erupted and then accelerated from late 2019 as a result of the combined impact of US sanctions, COVID-19, the collapse of the financial system in neighbouring Lebanon, and the increase in the prices of oil shipments from Iran.

(UN 28/06/2022, Reuters 28/06/2022, OCHA 22/02/2022, UNFPA 03/03/2023, WFP 31/05/2021)

Latest updates on country situation

06 September 2023

By 6 September 2023, ten days of clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Arab-led Military Council militia had resulted in at least 54 unconfirmed deaths. The fighting erupted in the countryside of Deir-ez-Zor city in northeastern Syria. Displacement has been observed, mainly to Al-Mayadeen west of Euphrates River, but there is not enough information on the numbers or scale. Curfews, blockages in the main roads of many towns, and road damage have resulted in shortages of essential commodities, such as bread and flour. Clashes have also damaged critical public infrastructure, such as hospitals and water treatment facilities. Some of the immediate needs include shelter, drinking water, and food. Deir-ez-Zor and northeastern Syria in general already face a humanitarian crisis, with 12 years of conflict displacing almost 700,000 people in northeastern Syria alone. These people are almost entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. (Enab Baladi 05/09/2023,
OCHA 04/09/2023, MSF accessed 06/09/2023)

18 July 2023

As at 19 July 2023, the UNSC Resolution 2672 (2023), which expired on 10 July, has still not been renewed. The resolution allowed the delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to northwest Syria through Bab Al Hawa crossing, on the Syria-Türkiye border.
Following the February earthquakes, the Syrian government allowed the use of two other crossings on the Syria-Türkiye border to deliver aid and assistance to the affected population in northwestern Syria. The permission comes to an end on 13 August.
The 12 years of conflict and the earthquakes in February 2023 resulted in significant humanitarian needs for the population in northwestern Syria. Priority needs are shelter, food, and health assistance.
Failing to renew the cross-border resolution on the use of Bab Al Hawa border-crossing jeopardizes the main UN-coordinated aid delivery mechanism to northwestern Syria. The cross-border humanitarian operation provides aid for around four million people in the region, including around three million IDPs, of which around 1.9 million live in 1,420 camps and informal sites.
(ACAPS 16/06/2023, AP News 15/07/2023, Aljazeera 13/05/2023)

23 May 2023

As at 24 May 2023, the Semalka border crossing connecting Northeast Syria with Iraq had been closed for four days following disputes between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Kurdish-controlled Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Around three million people live in Northeast Syria, including over 655,000 IDPs. The Semalka border is a vital crossing for the movement of people and goods between the two regions, and it is the only one that is not controlled by either the Syrian or Turkish Governments in Northeast Syria. Around two million people in Northeast Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance. The crossing has been used by humanitarian organisations, and its closure will have an impact on humanitarian operations, including the transport of supplies and staff. Before the Iraqi authorities closed the border on 20 May, over 300 international staff were evacuated.


(Al-Monitor 21/05/2023, ECHO 23/05/2023, WHO 27/01/2022)

current crises
in Syria


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

REG015 - Turkiye / Syria earthquake (regional crisis)

Last updated 28/06/2023


Drivers

Earthquake

Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4 High

Access constraints

5.0

SYR002 - Türkiye / Syria earthquake

Last updated 31/08/2023


Drivers

Earthquake

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.4 High

Access constraints

5.0

REG004 - Syrian Regional Crisis

Last updated 28/06/2023


Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

SYR001 - Conflict

Last updated 31/08/2023


Drivers

Conflict
Displacement
Violence

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.6 Very High

Access constraints

5.0

Analysis products
on Syria

Syria: Capacity-strengthening needs in NWS non-government-controlled areas

29 September 2023

Syria: Capacity-strengthening needs in NWS non-government-controlled areas

DOCUMENT / PDF / 290 KB

This report explores the capacity-strengthening needs of the local NGOs (LNGOs) headquartered and registered in Türkiye and the local responders operating in the nongovernment- controlled areas of Northwest Syria (NWS) – Idleb and northern Aleppo – following the February 2023 earthquake response and the July 2023 non-renewal of the UNSC cross-border resolution. The capacity-strengthening needs are categorised based on the three strategic pillars of the Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA).

Syria: data and analysis ecosystem

13 August 2023

Syria: data and analysis ecosystem

DOCUMENT / PDF / 3 MB

This report highlights the main information producers in Syria, the dynamics around data collection and analysis, and the associated challenges. It also seeks to improve the understanding of humanitarian analysis in Syria.

Turkiye/Syria earthquake
Northern Syria: key crises to watch

04 August 2023

Northern Syria: key crises to watch

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1,016 KB

This report provides an overview of three key humanitarian crises in northern Syria that are expected to deteriorate or see a significant humanitarian impact in the next 6 to 12 months. 

EconomyHumanitarian access

Attached resources

Syria: Cross-border resolution expiration

21 July 2023

Syria: Cross-border resolution expiration

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report aims to provide an overview of the humanitarian impact of the failure of the UN Security Council to renew the mandate for crossborder delivery of humanitarian aid into Northwest Syria (NWS) after its expiry on 10 July 2023 and the contextual dynamics around this.

Humanitarian access
Syria: Assessing increased protection risks and vulnerabilities after the earthquakes

16 June 2023

Syria: Assessing increased protection risks and vulnerabilities after the earthquakes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 288 KB

The report provides an overview of the main protection threats in NWS that the February earthquakes have worsened. It is not a comprehensive list of all protection threats in the region. The analysis includes the differentiated impact on the population and the most at-risk groups.

Natural hazards
View more

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