Amman, Jordan, December 3, 2024 — Tanya Evans, IRC’s Country Director in Syria, says,
“Escalating hostilities in northern Syria over the last week now threatens to plunge yet more Syrians into humanitarian need. Bombardments, including airstrikes, have killed dozens of civilians and injured many more—most of them women and children—with casualty numbers expected to rise as the violence continues. Alarmingly, we are hearing reports of hospitals and healthcare facilities damaged due to the conflict, limiting access to essential medical services and further endangering the lives of those in need of assistance.
“As many as 45,000 people are reported to have been displaced already, including many IRC staff and clients. While the UN estimates 200,000 to 400,000 could be internally displaced unless hostilities cease. Some are staying with relatives, we know that some now have no other options but to sleep in the streets in the bitter cold. On November 28, we were forced to temporarily halt our operations due to security concerns. While we have since resumed critical activities, such as providing life-saving health services and delivering medical supplies to our partner-run hospitals, the escalating violence continues to make our work incredibly difficult. Despite these immense challenges, we remain committed to reaching those in need across northern Syria. We are continuing our efforts to restore hospitals and rehabilitate critical infrastructure, providing mobile health unit services, and supporting our partners. These actions are vital to ensure that essential healthcare remains accessible to the most vulnerable.
“This is yet another devastating chapter in Syria’s, now, 14th-year of crisis. The IRC urgently calls on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure and the safety of humanitarian workers delivering life-saving assistance. With humanitarian needs in Syria at the highest they have ever been, it is critical that the international community also immediately increases flexible funding to ensure humanitarian organisations on the ground can both strengthen early recovery efforts and prevent yet further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.”
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Notes to editors:
The IRC has been working in Syria since 2012 and is currently responding to needs in northwest and northeast Syria, directly and in partnership with local organizations. We provide lifesaving health care, including support for health facilities and mobile health teams offering critical trauma care, as well as primary, reproductive, and mental health services. The IRC also delivers counseling and protection services for women and children, particularly survivors of violence, along with cash assistance, early recovery and early childhood development support.
In response to the current escalation in hostilities in the northwest, the IRC continues to support partner-run hospitals and healthcare facilities, ensuring essential health needs are met while closely monitoring the situation and adapting to emerging needs.
In Turkiye, we are supporting partners in delivering health care, protection, and emergency cash assistance to those affected by the 2023 earthquakes. We also support Syrian refugees in neighboring countries. Learn more about the IRC’s Syria response.