Syrian Arab Republic: Humanitarian Situation Report No. 2 (As of 27 February 2025)

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 12 to 27 February 2025. The next report will be issued on or around 12 March.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Hostilities continue to affect north-eastern and southern Syria, resulting in civilian casualties and restricted humanitarian access. Since January, conflict-related damage has led to the partial or complete suspension of 19 water stations in Ain Al-Arab, eastern Aleppo, impacting 237,000 people
• Since December, nearly 1.2 million people have returned to their areas of origin in Syria, including over 885,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) - most of whom were displaced after November - and 292,000 Syrians from other countries.
• Departures from camps remain limited, with fewer than 100,000 people leaving camps in north-west Syria since December. Damaged homes, inadequate services, and the threat of unexploded ordnance are key barriers to return.
• Since the start of 2025, a total of 475 trucks carrying aid from six UN agencies have crossed from Türkiye to Syria—more than five times the number during the same period last year.
• The humanitarian response for Syria is significantly underfunded, having secured 10 per cent of the $1.2 billion needed through March.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Insecurity in north-east and south restricts humanitarian access

Over the past two weeks, hostilities persisted in north-eastern and southern parts of Syria, resulting in civilian casualties and humanitarian access restrictions.

In eastern Aleppo, shelling, armed clashes and other violent incidents affected areas near the Al-Khafsa water pumping station and the Tishreen Dam – which remains non-operational since 10 December, depriving over 413,000 people in Menbij and Ain Al-Arab of electricity and pumped water for more than two months. Conflict-related damage has prevented the dam from generating electricity since January, leading to the partial or complete suspension of 19 water stations in Ain Al-Arab. Partners reported that this has affected over 237,000 people, including nearly 13,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Ras Al-Ain and Afrin. Ongoing insecurity is also hindering humanitarian access and rehabilitation efforts.

Over the past two weeks, shelling and other incidents were also reported in multiple villages across AlHasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor in the north-east. On 26 February, at least eight civilians, including shepherds, were killed by airstrikes affecting various locations across the Al-Rweshed desert in north-eastern Deir-ez-Zor, according to partners.

Meanwhile, Israeli incursions and airstrikes affected the southern governorates, along with raids beyond the demilitarized zone in villages across Quneitra and Dar’a, sparking peaceful protests across governorates on 25 and 26 February. Humanitarian partners have expressed concerns over the impact of ongoing insecurity, which may delay humanitarian activities, including shelter repair projects. The demand for shelter support is rising, particularly in the South, due to the continued return of refugee families, especially to Dar’a Governorate. However, the number of damaged homes from the conflict remains significant, with as many as 3,000 houses requiring rehabilitation in a single subdistrict.

Over 540 casualties by UXOs – a key barrier to returns

Across the country, accidents involving unexploded ordnance (UXOs) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) have become a daily reality. Since the last OCHA update, the Mine Action Area of Responsibility reported that 17 people, including four children, were killed, and 40 others, including 19 children, were injured in 26 incidents. This brings the total number of casualties since December to 544, including 200 deaths and 344 injuries – one-third of whom were children.

Of the 26 UXO/ERW-related accidents reported in the past two weeks, 15 occurred in farmland or areas where animals were grazing. Five accidents happened while people were hunting for truffles, given the seasonal activity. In one incident in Hama, an UXO exploded against a group of civilians searching for truffles, instantly killing three. The situation is particularly dire in Deir-ez-Zor, where access to trauma services and post-injury rehabilitation for survivors is scarce due to damaged health facilities in the conflict and persisting funding gaps.

The presence of unexploded ordnance remains a key access constraint for people, including IDPs, returnees and aid workers. According to a new factsheet by REACH, 68 per cent of surveyed IDPs in six camps in northeast Syria cited insecurity, including the fear of explosives, as a major barrier to return.