Escalating violence displaces more than 14,000 in three days in north-west Syria

ActionAid’s partners in north-west Syria have been forced to suspend their humanitarian work amid violent clashes that have displaced around 14,000 people across Idlib and western Aleppo over the past three days.

More families are being displaced by the hour as the violence continues to escalate. 

Since Wednesday, 30 non-governmental organisations in Idleb have suspended their humanitarian work due to the fighting.

ActionAid’s partner, Violet, has suspended many of its activities in the area, though it is still operating its emergency ambulance services. Violet’s emergency teams are preparing to provide shelter and essentials for families displaced by the latest wave of violence.

Hisham Dirani, CEO of Violet, ActionAid’s partner in northwest Syria, said: “In the places where the violence has broken out, there is nowhere for people to go. People are having to find shelter wherever they can. In the town of Darkoush, for example, a public swimming pool has been turned into a temporary shelter for people who have fled their villages. Most displaced families have been forced to seek shelter in open fields and farmland, without any proper shelter or basic facilities.

“To make matters worse, Syria is experiencing a cold weather front with harsh conditions, and even more severe winter weather is expected. This makes it even more difficult for families who are already unable to afford heating, blankets or warm clothes, and are now sleeping outside in the open.”

Yasmina, from Freedom Jasmine, another of ActionAid’s partner’s working in northern Syria, said: 

“The humanitarian situation in northwest Syria has reached alarming levels. Displaced families are living in dire conditions and have had to flee their homes without even the most basic necessities. On top of that, the harsh weather means the needs are even greater.”

ActionAid expressed deep concern about the violence and called for the protection of civilians. 

Sudipta Kumar, ActionAid’s Regional Director for the Arab Region, said: "The situation in north-west Syria was already desperate, and this new wave of violence comes at a time when funding for the humanitarian crisis is critically low, and another harsh winter is approaching. Having already lived through years of conflict and disaster, thousands of families now face a freezing winter without anywhere to live. With needs growing by the day, the international community must step up urgently to address the huge underfunding of the humanitarian response.”