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UN reports expanded cross-border missions to northwest Syria but warns of shortages and rising mine incidents
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Summary
The UN said it completed 386 cross-border missions last year to northwest Syria and is resuming operations this month, while health partners warn shortages of fuel, electricity, water and medical supplies and mine action partners reported a sharp rise in explosive incidents.
Steph, UN spokesperson, told reporters on Jan. 8 that UN and partner agencies are continuing to expand humanitarian response in Syria “as the situation on the ground allows.” She said the World Health Organization this week carried out the first UN cross-border mission of the year, moving from Turkiye into Azaz in northern Aleppo to train paramedics on trauma care, and that additional cross-border missions are planned in the coming days.
Steph said that last year the UN completed 386 cross-border missions to northwest Syria — "about 30 a month" — for monitoring, assessments and aid delivery. Health partners are reporting critical shortages across Aleppo and other areas, including fuel, electricity and water. The Menbij National Hospital, which served around 100,000 people, has relied entirely on generators for several days to power incubators and intensive-care equipment, she said.
Medical supply shortfalls were also reported across the country, Steph said, including shortages of chronic disease medications, gloves and syringes. She said partners are supporting winterization efforts and distributing essentials such as winter clothing and blankets.
Steph said more than 620,000 people remain newly displaced across Syria and the security situation remains volatile in parts of Aleppo, Homs, coastal areas and northeast Syria. She also said mine-action partners reported a drastic rise in incidents in December, with a more than 300% increase in incidents compared with November; between Jan. 2 and Jan. 5 alone, she said, 13 civilians were killed and dozens injured by landmine explosions in northwest Syria.
On the political track, Steph said the UN special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, remains in contact with key actors and is scheduled to brief the Security Council via video conference from Geneva on Wednesday; his deputy, Najat Rochdi, was in Damascus engaging officials there.
