Source: US Agency for International Development
Country: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey, United States of America
Highlights
- GoT and GoRF agree to establish demilitarized zone surrounding Idlib
- SARG and GoRF airstrikes in Hamah, Idlib, and Latakia displace 45,500 people in September
- Approximately 90,000 people remain at IDP sites across northeastern Syria
- An estimated 6.5 million people across Syria remain food insecure
Key Developments
- On September 17, the Government of the Russian Federation (GoRF) and Government of Turkey (GoT) agreed to establish a 9–15 mile-wide demilitarized zone surrounding Idlib Governorate, separating Syrian Arab Republic Government (SARG) forces from armed opposition groups (AOGs) and militant elements, international media report. The GoT noted that the agreement could prevent the further deterioration of humanitarian conditions by halting or delaying an anticipated SARG offensive on Idlib, which the UN estimates could displace up to 900,000 people in northwestern Syria.
- Between September 1 and 20, SARG and GoRF airstrikes in northern Hamah, southern Idlib, and Latakia governorates displaced more than 45,500 people, according to the UN. However, as of September 20, approximately 24,900 people had returned to areas of origin in northwestern Syria.
- Nearly 153,000 people returned to areas of origin in Ar Raqqah city between October 2017 and late September 2018, although conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist in many areas, according to the UN. In addition, nearly 225,000 people have returned to Dayr az Zawr Governorate. As of late July, approximately 90,000 people were residing in displacement sites across northeastern Syria, the UN reports.
- An estimated 6.5 million people across Syria remain food insecure, the UN reports. In addition, nearly 70 percent of Idlib’s estimated population of 3 million people requires emergency food assistance, according to the Food Security Sector (FSS) and the UN. Notwithstanding, overall food consumption across Syria improved and food commodity prices decreased in August, according to a recent assessment conducted by USAID/FFP partner the UN World Food Program (WFP).