HIGHLIGHTS
As many as 184,000 people remain displaced in southwestern Syria following SARG,
GoRF military offensiveConflict in Syria kills 55 aid workers during the first half of 2018
11.2 million Syrians require emergency food assistance
Nearly 7,000 people evacuated Idlib’s Foah and Kafraya towns
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
The Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) regained control of southwestern Syria in late July following a military offensive against armed opposition groups (AOGs) and militant groups in the region. Military operations continued to kill civilians and resulted in additional displacement throughout July, and up to 184,000 people remained displaced in southwestern Syria as of August 1, the UN reports. Humanitarian organizations also report limited access to vulnerable populations in the region following the offensive.
From January–June 2018, conflict killed 55 aid workers in Syria, representing the highest number of aid workers killed during the first half of the year in any country experiencing protracted conflict, according to the USAID-funded Danger in Aid project.
As of June 2018, approximately 11.2 million people in Syria required emergency food assistance, an increase of 700,000 people since November 2017, according to the Food Security Sector (FSS)—the coordinating body for humanitarian food security activities, comprising UN agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other stakeholders. Populations residing in Ar Raqqah Governorate experienced the most significant increase in food assistance needs between November 2017 and June 2018, increasing by more than 100 percent.
On July 25, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) elements detonated improvised explosive devices and launched attacks in several towns in As Suwayda’ Governorate, killing at least 240 people and injuring 170 others, relief agencies report.