Syrian Arab Republic: Dar’a, Qunaitra, Sweida Situation Report No. 5 As of 2 August 2018 This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 27 July to 2 August 2018. Highlights Following large-scale territorial gains by the Government of Syria (GoS), the GoS now controls all areas of south- west Syria. There are reports of initial smaller-scale return movements of IDPs to their areas of origin in Qunaitra and Western Dar’a governorate, with efforts underway to confirm the overall number of returnees and IDPs. As of 1 August, up to 184,000 individuals were estimated to remain displaced. A total of 10,064 individuals, including women and children, were evacuated from south-west Syria to Idleb and other areas in north-west Syria where the security situation remains volatile. Life-saving humanitarian assistance has been dispatched at scale, and a number of services are being provided through UN partners across the south-west. However, access constraints, the suspension of nearly all cross- border assistance and a lack of presence and capacity on the ground continue to limit the humanitarian response. The United Nations is urgently appealing for immediate and sustained access to effectively assess needs and monitor the distribution of assistance. The UN and partners, both from within Syria and cross-border, require a total of $84.8 million to support 300,000 affected people with protection and humanitarian assistance across south-west Syria. up to 10,064 463,955 $84.8 184,000 individuals, including IDPs and members is the funding people are estimated to remain women and children, were of the host community requirement identified by the displaced from their homes in evacuated to the northern cumulatively reached with UN and partners to assist south-west Syria governorates monthly food rations and those affected wheat flour1 Situational Overview Following a military escalation and a series of local agreements, the GoS now controls all of Dar’a governorate and areas of Quneitra governorate, with the area that had until recently remained under the control of the ISIL-affiliated JKBW re-taken. There are unconfirmed reports that on 1 August, some 80 ISIL fighters from the Hawd Al-Yarmouk area and some 300 from the Al-Ragad valley south of Quneitra were evacuated to the Al-Badia, east of As-Sweida. As in previous weeks, ongoing military activity in south-west Syria continued to affect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Most recently, on 30 July, reports were received that airstrikes hit an IDP camp near Koya, allegedly killing three girls, two women and one man. On 25 July, coordinated suicide attacks by ISIL on As-Sweida city and eastern rural As-Sweida and subsequent fighting, killed an estimated 240 people, injured at least 170, and displaced many more. Scores of ISIL militants also raided homes in at least eight villages in eastern and north-eastern rural As-Sweida, reportedly killing civilians inside their homes and kidnapping a number of women and children. The United Nations have strongly condemned this terrorist attack. To date, some 10,064 individuals, including many women and children, were evacuated to Idleb. The United Nations are severely concerned for the well-being of those who were transported to Idleb given the volatile 1 An additional 153,160 IDPs were reached by Syria and Jordan-based partners under the first line response www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Syrian Arab Republic: Dara’a, Qunaitra, Sweida; Report No. 5 security situation, the limited capacity of local humanitarian actors to scale up the response and the fact that the area is already overcrowded with hundreds of thousands of IDPs in need of assistance. The continued influx of people puts additional strains on already overburdened and underserved communities. Medical staff and humanitarian workers who had been active in the area prior to the shifts in control reportedly have the option to ‘settle their security status’, in line with the provisions in previous local agreements. However, all NGOs that had previously provided services in the area have reportedly been dissolved. The dissolving of all local NGOs in formerly NSAG-controlled areas will result in a large capacity gap when it comes to the distribution of humanitarian assistance, and the loss of livelihoods for these NNGO workers. Despite the provisions put in place for medical workers, as per WHO information, the local health capacity in the area is rapidly declining and of an estimated 130 physicians who were working in NSAG-controlled areas before the escalation of conflict in mid-June, just 25 remain active. The United Nations reiterates its call for the safety and protection of local aid workers inside Syria, who risk their lives on a daily basis and work tirelessly to provide life-saving assistance to fellow Syrians in need in accordance with humanitarian principles. The United Nations have received some reports of initial smaller-scale return movements of IDPs to their areas of origin in Qunaitra and Western Dar’a governorate and continue to work with partners and sources on the ground to confirm returns and IDP numbers. As of 1 August, up to nearly 184,000 individuals were estimated to remain displaced. The need for humanitarian assistance remains staggering, amidst the sustained suspension of most of the cross-border assistance and programming and prolonged periods of displacement, while access for the UN and INGOs from within Syria to the population of concern remains constrained. The United Nations is urgently appealing for immediate and unimpeded access to all people in need in south-west Syria. 2 Syrian Arab Republic: Dara’a, Qunaitra, Sweida; Report No. 5 Humanitarian Response Food Security Needs: Needs remain in line with those reported in the last SitRep. 463,955 Response from Jordan-based partners: IDPs and members of Same as last week, the Jordan-based partners reached 24,323 households the host community reached or an estimated 121,615 IDPs with the first line response (Ready to Eat with monthly food rations and Rations), and 41,075 households or an estimated 205,375 IDPs with wheat flour2 second line response (Monthly Food Rations by in kind or cash based response). In addition, between 5 – 15 July 17,935 households (89,675 IDPs) received bread assistance in Ajami, Hara, Jasim, Tabrayiat, Tell Shihab and Rafid. Response from Syria-based partners: First Line Response: As of 31 July, WFP distributed 6,309 Ready to Eat Rations (benefiting an estimated 31,545 people) in As-Sweida, Dar’a (Izra, As, Sanaymyn, Dar’a city and the Jbab camp), Rural Damascus (Kisweh). Second Line Response: As of 31 July, WFP distributed Monthly Food Rations with wheat flour to 51,716 households (benefiting an estimated 258,580 people) in several locations such as Abtaa, Da'el, East and West Ghariyeh, Sahwa, Kahil, Msferia, Karak, Ghasm, Um Walad, Jizeh, Nassib, Om Almayadah, Bushra-As- Sham, Elma, El Soura, Al Hrak, West and East Mleiha, Nahteh, Tell Shhab, Al Yadodah, Kharb Al Sham, Nawa, Dara Al Balad and As-Sanayman (Jbab camp). Gaps and Constraints: The gaps and constraints as reported in the last situation report, remain still valid with particular concerns for access to the IDPs and host population of the Yarmouk valley and those in Qunaitra. Livelihoods and agriculture activities were mostly suspended by sector partners due to high insecurity. However, conflict and displacement are likely to create additional needs for seasonal livelihoods in the communities in south-west Syria. Tension and incidents in distribution points continue to be reported. The safety and security of humanitarian staff on the ground have been highlighted as a key concern by sector partners. A lack of assessments, difficulties in tracking IDP figures, several informal settlements spreading out and overstretched capacity and resources as well as a shortage of fuel continue to pose challenges for partners. Nutrition Needs: Screening and treatment of identified acute malnutrition cases of children 8,792 between 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women is required, as children under five well as infant and young feeding support and counselling services, years have been benefitting children between 0-24 months. collectively screened for malnutrition 2 258,580 people were reached from Syria-based partners in places previously served by Jordan hub under the second line response, and some 205,375 IDPs were reached by Jordan-based partners. An additional 153,160 IDPs were reached by Syria and Jordan-based partners under the first line response 3 Syrian Arab Republic: Dara’a, Qunaitra, Sweida; Report No. 5 The influx of unsolicited and untargeted donations of infant formula is widespread, and proper control and monitoring of breastmilk substitute donations is a priority. There is a need for blanket supplementary feeding, including Plumpy’Doz, high energy biscuits and micronutrient distribution, for children between 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women. Response from Jordan-based partners: The rapid change in control patterns in south-west Syria has led to a suspension of nutrition activities in eastern Dar’a, and similarly the UN cross-border convoys remain suspended. Response from Syria-based partners: UNICEF, in cooperation with the Department of Health Dar’a, supported three integrated health and nutrition Rapid Response Teams who provide out-patient medical consultations, vaccination, reproductive health and nutrition services. These interventions were in Jbab and newly accessible areas in western and eastern countryside of Dar’a and eastern countryside of Quneitra, including six IDPs collective shelters.