The UN aid coordination office, OCHA, has reported that the cross-border operation from Türkiye into the northwest is running smoothly.
Just recently, on Tuesday, 21 trucks carrying 500 metric tonnes of food – enough for 175,000 people – from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) crossed into Idlib through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing.
Cholera campaign in the northeast
In northeast Syria, a cholera vaccination campaign is currently in progress in Al-Hol camp in Al-Hasakeh, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
This campaign began on Saturday and is set to continue for 10 days.
Meanwhile, in the south, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, is focused on providing essential non-food items to displaced families in need.
Child protection services
OCHA has indicated that child protection services have resumed in Aleppo, with 26 fixed centres and 12 mobile teams operating in both urban and rural areas.
Additionally, the WHO has delivered emergency kits, IV fluids, and medical supplies totaling 2.5 tonnes to Aleppo University Hospital and Al Razi Hospital in the past two weeks.
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) also delivered 6,000 litres of fuel to Zahi Azraq Hospital.
Supply shortages, financial issues
Despite progress, OCHA warns that supply shortages, financial challenges, and insecurity across the country continue to hinder humanitarian response efforts.
“Partners have alerted us to the dwindling nutrition supplies for pregnant and lactating women throughout the country, with many cases not being treated,” stated the agency.
Furthermore, incidents such as the theft of insulin supplies from seven primary health centres in Hama and the inability of 18 primary health centres in Homs to provide vaccination services due to damage, looting, and staff shortages have been reported.
Various vendors and field partners have reported limitations on cash withdrawals, impacting their operations.
Additionally, some vendors are facing low stock levels due to curfews, violence, robbery, and other security-related issues.
Earlier this week, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, disclosed that over 58,000 individuals have returned to Syria from neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Türkiye in the past three weeks.
