Mercy Corps & NGOs in Syria Warn of the Grave Impact of Escalating Hostilities

06 October 2023

Mercy Corps and humanitarian NGOs today call on all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and protect civilians amid an alarming escalation in violence across Syria since October 5, 2023. This escalation has already caused tens of deaths and injuries among civilians, and wide-scale destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. This has threatened access to essential services for hundreds of thousands of people, including water, electricity, and lifesaving humanitarian assistance. 

Northeast Syria experienced a significant increase in aerial strikes since October 4. At the time of issuance, a total of 30 strikes have been verified, impacting civilian lives and leading to major damage to critical civilian infrastructure including water stations, power stations, farms, and sites in the direct vicinity of civilian villages and Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps. At least five people have been reported injured. Attacks on power stations and transfer stations, including the Swediyeh power plant, have significantly impacted access to electricity networks for more than 630,000 people. Damage to gas infrastructure has left hospitals, bakeries, and other critical infrastructure at risk. The Alouk water station is again offline due to severed access to electricity. The strikes are ongoing at the time of writing and further impacts are anticipated. 

Attacks on Northwest Syria have also affected critical civilian infrastructure, causing power outages across several towns and villages. Furthermore, reports indicate that 39 communities, 4 schools, 1 mosque, and several markets have been impacted in the latest shelling. This increases contamination with explosive ordnance in populated areas that will continue to cause injury, death, and psychological trauma long after violence ceases. 

In central Syria, an attack on a military graduation ceremony in Homs led to more than 100 people being killed, including children and other civilians. 

The ongoing escalation of violence threatens further loss of civilian life. It also impedes aid agencies’ ability to adequately and swiftly respond to the vast and growing needs across Syria, reversing years of concerted efforts to meet the immediate needs of more than 15.3 million people already in need of humanitarian assistance. 

Parties to the conflict in Syria must uphold their obligations under International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. This includes adopting all measures necessary to protect civilians from harm and preserve the continuity of humanitarian operations to ensure the timely and effective delivery of aid to those who are most in need. 

Any further escalation of hostilities will inevitably disrupt the delivery of life-saving assistance and pose immediate threats to the safety of aid workers and communities alike. A long-lasting ceasefire right across the country is the only way to prevent further deaths, injury, and human suffering.

 

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