The Emergency Response Coordinators team in Syria has reported that the majority of IDP camps in northern Syria are suffering from severe shortages in humanitarian aid and relief services. Most camps fail to provide even the minimum standards of living, healthcare, and education, with residents living in worn-out tents that cannot withstand harsh conditions.
The team recently conducted a survey to evaluate the state of humanitarian aid in IDP camps as winter approaches. The survey covered over 73,484 displaced individuals of various age groups living in more than 611 camps located in Idlib province and northern Aleppo countryside. Among those surveyed were over 33,473 women and girls, 6,332 children, and 1,273 individuals with disabilities.
The survey found that 22% of the camps had not received any humanitarian activities for more than a year and a half. It also revealed that approximately 89% of individuals in the camps do not receive food aid, while only 11% receive it intermittently. Over 94% of respondents reported no access to medical facilities in their camps, with only 6% having limited access to such services within a 500-meter radius.
The situation with water and sanitation is similarly dire, as 91% of displaced individuals lack regular access to water or waste disposal services. Only 9% receive these services, and even then, access remains difficult. Education is another critical area of concern, with more than 96% of children unable to access schools or educational facilities within their camps. The few children who do attend school must travel to nearby educational institutions.
The survey also highlighted the deplorable state of shelter, with 98% of respondents reporting that their tents have become worn-out due to harsh conditions. Many families have been forced to purchase tents using their own limited resources.
Internal roads in the camps present yet another challenge, as 82% of the displaced reported a lack of repair and maintenance projects for roads and drainage systems. Although 18% mentioned ongoing projects, they expressed concerns that these efforts are inadequate and likely to collapse with the onset of heavy rain due to their rudimentary construction.
The team emphasized that the United Nations and humanitarian organizations are facing significant funding shortages, with only 27% of the required support secured since the beginning of the year. This limits the ability to meet the increasing needs of displaced populations.
The worsening lack of healthcare services poses a serious threat, increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, particularly among children and the elderly. Limited access to clean water further exacerbates these risks. The survey underscored that providing clean water and sanitation services is one of the most pressing challenges in the camps, especially as their populations continue to grow.
On Monday, the Syrian Opposition Coalition (SOC) on Monday warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as humanitarian aid continues to dwindle. The SOC noted the rising number of displaced people in liberated areas and the added strain of winter, urging the international community to fulfill its commitments and provide increased support.
Haytham Rahmeh, the SOC’s Secretary-General, stressed that many IDP camps urgently require rebuilding as they are incapable of withstanding floods and storms. He added that, as in previous years, the recent military escalation by the Assad regime and its allies in the liberated areas has resulted in new waves of displacement, further exacerbating the suffering of displaced populations and presenting greater challenges for the United Nations and its agencies.
(Source: SOC’s Media Department)
