War in Syria
Fighting in northwest Syria, including Idlib, has uprooted more than a million Syrians鈥攖riggering the largest displacement in the country鈥檚 nine-year-old war. Here鈥檚 what you need to know.
Where is Idlib?
Idlib is located in northwestern and is the last major area controlled by the opposition. The province is home to nearly three million civilians, including one million children.
What is happening in Idlib?
There are ongoing efforts by the Syrian government and its allies to take control of the province. Close to 900,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since December鈥攐ver half of them children. There are already 400,000 people displaced from fighting that began in April. If violence continues to escalate, an additional 400,000 civilians could soon be displaced.
鈥淎s people lose their homes, see their children killed by airstrikes or before their eyes as they desperately try to keep them warm, it is not only the humanitarian situation in Idlib that is at breaking point, but the people there too,鈥 said 探花精选 regional policy and advocacy director Misty Buswell. Around 300 civilians have been killed since January 1.
As a result of the intensity of the shelling and airstrikes, 34 探花精选 staff members have been forced to flee their homes.
Children sit by a fire inside a tent in a displacement camp for Syrians in northwestern Idlib.
Photo: AAREF WATAD/AFP via Getty Images
What is the humanitarian situation in Idlib?
The humanitarian situation in northwest Syria is reaching catastrophic levels. Many of the newly displaced families have no choice but to camp out in the open where temperatures drop close to zero when night falls. They urgently need food, shelter and fuel to keep warm as well as psychological support to help them cope with what has happened to them.
The health situation in Idlib is already particularly dire with a shortage of medical supplies. Many medical facilities have been attacked in the past, including two supported by the 探花精选. Most recently, the violence has forced the 探花精选 and its partners to suspend operations in a number of medical facilities.
Doctors the 探花精选 works with on the ground tell us their hospitals are already full. They see babies with malnutrition on a daily basis, and are treating children suffering from mental health issues as a result of the violence they鈥檝e experienced.
Around 1.4 million people in Idlib have been displaced by earlier waves of fighting in Syria. Since last April, 1,506 civilians, including 433 children, have been killed as a result of the military escalation, according to the United Nations. Shelling and airstrikes have hit schools, markets and displacement camps.
Idlib saw a dramatic increase in air attacks in September against armed groups not covered by any ceasefire agreement.
How is the 探花精选 responding?
The 探花精选 urgently calls for an immediate ceasefire; for all parties to the conflict to commit to the United Nations peace process in Geneva to bring an end to the Syrian conflict, and for all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and ensure they are spared from the worst effects of the fighting.
鈥淭he crisis going on now in Idlib reflects an utter failure of diplomacy and the abandonment of Syrian civilians by the international community. We urgently need a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life,鈥 Buswell said.
Each month, the 探花精选 and its partners reach 72,000 patients living in makeshift camps and host communities in northwest Syria. We also support 19 health facilities, seven mobile health teams and two ambulance fleets. We are providing urgent cash assistance to families to help them get ready for the cold winter months.
The 探花精选 runs a safe space for children to learn and play as well as receive psychosocial support. With our partners, we distributed 26,362 educational kits with games, books and word cards for children to help them cope with their current situation.
32-year-old Eyad lives in western Idlib with his wife and young daughter. He fled from Damascus during a six-day battle in 2012. 鈥淚t was intense. Everyone cried when they walked out of the house. We had to move to [several] towns."
Photo: Abdullah Hammam/探花精选
In addition, the 探花精选 has two centres in northern Idlib where we have helped thousands of Syrians build skills for future employment and small businesses through apprenticeships, business start-up grants and life skills and vocational training.
What can I do to help Syrians in Idlib?
. Help the 探花精选 provide vital aid to families in Syria, and support our work around the world.
about ways to help Syrian refugees and other families uprooted by conflict.
The 探花精选 in Syria
Last year, the 探花精选 provided lifesaving support across Syria to 1.1 million people鈥攁lmost half of them children鈥攚ho are struggling to survive a brutal war now in its eighth year. .
