UN warns of humanitarian crisis in Sweida due to clashes, displacement

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), nearly 2,000 families have fled from Sweida in southern Syria due to intensified fighting, amid worsening humanitarian conditions and a severe shortage of medical supplies and basic services.

UN spokesperson Stéphanie Tremblay stated during a press briefing in New York that the displaced families are currently sheltering in 12 collective sites within the region, noting that "many are unable to return to their homes due to destruction, looting, or forced displacement."

Tremblay called on all parties to ensure the protection of civilians trapped in conflict zones and to allow them safe movement in search of medical assistance and shelter. She emphasized the need for security forces to adhere to international humanitarian law in all military operations.

She added that the healthcare system in Sweida is "under enormous pressure," while hospitals in the neighboring Daraa province face similar conditions, with most facilities "operating without electricity and facing severe shortages of medical supplies," forcing some to transfer patients to the capital, Damascus.

The UN spokesperson also relayed field reports confirming the deaths of at least two doctors during recent clashes, and that some armed groups have used medical facilities, endangering both patients and medical staff.

Tremblay noted that the UN and its partners are working to mobilize resources to deliver aid and assess needs in affected areas "as much as security conditions allow," adding that ongoing communication is underway with the transitional authorities to facilitate aid delivery.

In this context, the World Health Organization has dispatched 35 emergency surgical kits, enough for approximately 1,750 surgical procedures. However, most of them remain difficult to deliver due to imposed restrictions.

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ANHA