The UN: Situation of Syrian civilians is dramatically deteriorating with a harsh winter still to come

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, has warned that the level of poverty and malnourishment amongst the Syrian population is growing, as the region is preparing for another harsh winter.

According to the UN, over 80% of displaced families in Syria fail to achieve a level of income that allows them to cover their basic needs with 37% of displaced mothers being malnourished. The situation has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdowns that have strongly shaken the already weak Syrian economy.

The UN points out that 3 million people in Syria need humanitarian aid whereas aid organizations have the resources to help 2.3 million.

Syria has also registered an increasing number of coronavirus infections. Although it is difficult to estimate the accurate number of both cases and deaths due to the low levels of COVID-19 testing, hospitals are overwhelmed after reaching maximum capacity. Lowcock stressed that this makes access to healthcare more difficult and therefore many people are not receiving the medical care they need. The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak have also translated into higher prices for basic goods such as bread or fuel which in December 2020 twice as expensive as they were three months earlier, in September. In addition, the UN has experienced obstacles while conducting humanitarian operations. The Syrian authorities ordered the distribution of food to be halted to 220,000 beneficiaries in the northeast part of the country in the Ar-Raqqa governorate, arguing that help cannot be safely delivered because it does not hold control of the area.

Unfortunately, the end of the conflict that began in March 2011 is far from in sight with fighting still affecting many civilians who are being killed or injured. The UN assesses that after nearly 10 years of conflict, over 6.5 million people have been displaced, out of which 5.6 million have fled Syria. Meanwhile, 90% of the population lives in permanent poverty with some facing famine and the upcoming winter will only make the situation even more difficult.

On Tuesday 22nd December, President Trump’s administration decided to impose new sanctions on the Syrian regime in an attempt to increase the pressure on Assad and his government. The sanctions targeted the Syrian central bank and Assad’s family but have yet to provoke any political solution or moderate or bring an end to the conflict.

Meanwhile, responding to the growing needs of the Syrian population, the Japanese government has decided to offer an Emergency Grant Aid of US$7.2 million. The funds will be channeled to help people living in Syria by UN agencies such as WFP, UNRWA, UNHCR, UNICEF, and OCHA and will be used to provide food, winter clothes, packages for house repairs, running water, and hygiene facilities as well as to improve medical health services and buy medical equipment.

It is estimated that thanks to Japanese grant, food will be delivered to 480,000 people, 5,400 children will receive items to help them through the winter and it will be possible to improve access to water and electricity for 43,000 people. Furthermore, UN agencies intend to renovate water and hygiene facilities in primary schools and healthcare facilities.