Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018 Humanitarian Situation Overview in (HSOS)

OVERALL FINDINGS1 Coverage In the second half of 2017, conflict escalated across Deir ez-Zor governorate. Multiple actors launched an offensive to expel the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from north-east Syria, resulting in large-scale displacement within and from the governorate. The situation in Deir ez-Zor stabilised AR Kisreh AL HASAKEH in November after Deir ez-Zor city was recaptured from ISIL. Thousands have spontaneously returned to the governorate since2. For more information, please refer to the latest governorate-wide Situation Overview and Sub-district Profiles. Out of the 39 communities assessed, 30 witnessed spontaneous returns in February, Tabni comprising an estimated 16,635 - 20,530 individuals. The largest numbers of returnees were reported in Sur Mathlum (3,000 – 3,200), Mrat (3,000 – 3,200) and Jdidet Bikara (2,500 – 3,000), all of which are located Deir-ez-Zor in Khasham subdistrict. Only three communities witnessed spontaneous refugee returns. Refugees in all Deir-ez-Zor Khasham three communities reportedly returned from Lebanon to reunite with their families, access employment Basira IRAQ opportunities and to reclaim assets. IDPs returned to 27 of the assessed communities, most commonly in order to protect or reclaim their assets and to reunite with their families. A majority of spontaneous IDP Muhasan returnees reportedly returned from Al Hasakeh or other areas within Deir ez-Zor. KIs in three communities Thiban (Mathlum, Mrat and Khasham) reported that some returnees left their community again in February, due to a Al re-escalation of conflict in Mathlum and Mrat, and a lack of access to employment opportunities and markets in Khasham. This may indicate that conditions in Khasham subdistrict may be less conducive to return than Ashara anticipated by some returnees. Of the 34 communities reporting an IDP presence, Basira reported the largest number of IDPs, 5,000 – 5,250, after receiving a large number of new arrivals in January and February. Jalaa Susat While a vast majority of communities reported that members of the pre-conflict population most commonly lived in independent apartments or houses, IDPs most commonly lived in shared apartments or houses, independent apartments or houses and collective public spaces not designed for shelter. IDPs in Basira reportedly most commonly lived in the latter, indicating that the community may have a shortage of adequate shelter to accommodate the large number of arrivals. All but two of the communities assessed in Deir ez-Zor reported barriers to accessing healthcare services, the most common being prohibitive costs and/ or lack of transportation to facilities. All but one community reported that women gave birth at home rather Communities assessed (39 of 129) than in formal health facilities, and 13 communities reported coping strategies to deal with a lack of medical Subdistricts with communities assessed (11 of 14) supplies; these included using non-medical items for treatment and recycling medical items.

Despite 75% of the 39 assessed communities reportedly not having received a food distribution in the 12 * months prior to this assessment, only slightly more than half of them reported barriers to accessing sufficient Top 3 reported priority needs Demographics amounts of food in February, with the high cost of some food items being the most commonly reported challenge. Of the 39 communities assessed, 95% reported that residents obtained food by purchasing items, 1. Healthcare 895,878 people in need as well as through personal production, thereby indicating a certain degree of self-sufficiency. Nonetheless, KIs in 16 of the assessed communities reported that residents were skipping meals to deal with insufficient 2. Water security 478,399 417,479 income. Some children in 30 of the 39 assessed communities were unable to attend educational facilities Education in February, primarily due to a lack of teaching staff and school supplies3. In eight of these communities, 3. * Figures based on HNO 2018 population data for the schools were reportedly being used for non-civilian purposes. entire governorate. KEY EVENTS Government forces advance on UNHCR aid convoy reaches Deir Three-year ISIL siege on Deir Thousands return to Deir ez-Zor, A WHO medical aid convoy ISIL in Deir ez-Zor, triggering ez-Zor for the first time since the Deir ez-Zor City fully recaptured ez-Zor broken as forces advance despite continued threats posed dispatches 14 tons of medicine large-scale displacement within city was besieged by ISIL three from ISIL7. into the city5. by explosive remnants8. and medical kits9. and from the governorate4. years ago6.

September 5 September 14 September 2 November December Date Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

Governorate areas of influence:

Area of influence Sourced from Live UA Map, 28 February 2018

Opposition - Free Syrian Army (FSA) AL HASAKEH Opposition - Free Syrian Army (Olive Branch/Idleb Shield) AR RAQQA Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF-coalition) Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Deir-ez-Zor City ISIL-affiliated groups

Assessed Community IRAQ

HOMS

2 Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

DISPLACEMENT Estimated percent of pre-conflict population (PCP) displaced from community:

Estimated number of 3,525 - 4,745 IDP arrivals in assessed communities in February. Estimated number of AL HASAKEH 16,635 - 20,530 spontaneous returns in assessed communities in February2. AR RAQQA

Communities with the largest estimated number of IDP arrivals: Basira 1,500 - 2,000 Deir-ez-Zor Jdid Ekeidat 300 - 350 Jdidet Bikara 250 - 300

Top 3 subdistricts of origin of most IDPs arrivals3,4: Khasham (Deir ez-Zor) 32%

Susat (Deir ez-Zor) 32% HOMS Hajin (Deir ez-Zor) 26%

33 communities reported no PCP departures. Top 3 reasons for PCP displacement in the remaining 6 assessed communities3,4:

Estimated % of pre-conflict population displaced Escalation of conflict 83% from community Subdistrict with one or more assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month Loss of assets 50% 0-24% 25-49% 75-100% 50-74% Subdistrict with no assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month Loss of income 50%

3 Multiple choices allowed. 3 4 By percent of communities reporting. Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

SHELTER AND NFI Fuel sufficiency:

Primary source of electricity 33 communities reported no lack of fuel. Most reported:4 common strategies to cope with a lack of fuel in the remaining 6 assessed communities3,4: 97% Generator 67+50+50+50+17 Burning plastic 67% 3% No source Burning clothes 50%

Burning furniture not in use 50% Deir-ez-Zor Cutting trees to burn 50% 97+30+0+0+A Burning waste 17%

Governorate average reported rent price in Syrian Pounds (SYP) across 2,441 SYP assessed communities.5 6,319 SYP Syrian average reported rent price in SYP across assessed communities.5

Most commonly reported shelter type for PCP (in red) and IDP (in grey) households4: 90+

Independent apartment/ house 35 90% Insufficient fuel reported Subdistrict with assessed communities

+10+ 35% Sufficient fuel reported Subdistrict with no assessed communities

Shared apartment/ house 35 10% Governorate capital

+0+ 35%

Collective public space 21 0% Reported fuel prices (in SYP)5:

+0+ 21%

Tent 9 0% Governorate average Governorate average Syrian average price 9% Fuel type: price in February: price in January: in February: Coal (1 kilogram) 493 479 345

Diesel (1 litre) 161 150 321 Butane (1 canister) 5,506 5,700 6,997 Firewood (1 tonne) 49,486 50,556 64,533

3 Multiple choices allowed. 4 4 By percent of communities reporting. 5 1 USD = 434 SYP (UN operational rates of exchange as of 1 March 2018) Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

HEALTH Presence of health facilities in assessed communities:

4 Communities reported that no assessed medical items were available in their community. Communities reported that the majority of women did not have access to formal health facilities 38 to give birth.

2 communities reported that residents experienced no barriers to accessing 3,4 healthcare services. The barriers in the remaining 37 assessed communities were : Deir-ez-Zor 68+51+30+30+27+22+14+5 High cost of transportation to facilities 68% Lack of transportation to facilities 51% Healthcare services too expensive 30% Security concerns when traveling to facilities 30% Old age 27% Disability/injuries/illness preventing travel 22% No health facilities available in the area 14% No health facilities reportedly available in area Subdistrict with assessed communities Security concerns to enter/remain in facilities 5% Health facilities reportedly available in area Governorate capital Subdistrict with no assessed communities

23 communities reported that residents were not using coping strategies to deal Top 3 most needed healthcare Top 3 most common health with a lack of medical supplies. The coping strategies used in the remaining 13 services reported3,4: problems reported3,4: communities were3,4: 77+23+ Surgical care 82% Acute respiratory infections 69% Using non-medical items for treatment 77% Recycling medical items 23% Chronic disease support 64% Skin diseases 64% Orthopedic services 64% Severe diseases affecting those 41% younger than 5

3 Multiple choices allowed. 5 4 By percent of communities reporting. Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

WASH Water sufficiency for household needs:

9 Communities reported that water from their primary source tasted and/or smelled bad. 2 Communities reported that drinking water from their primary source made people sick.

2 communities reported that residents had no problems with latrines. The most prevalent problems with latrines in the remaining 36 assessed communities were3,4: 94+58+39+14+11+6+6+6 Deir-ez-Zor Lack of privacy 94% No separation between men and women 58% Not clean 39% Inability to empty septic tanks 14% Blocked connections to sewage 11% Too crowded/insufficient 6% No water to flush 6% Not safe 6% Water in one or more assessed communities in subdistrict Insufficient water reported reportedly tastes/smells bad or makes people sick Sufficient water reported Governorate capital Water is reportedly fine to drink in all assessed 32 communities reported that they had sufficient amounts of water to meet communities in subdistrict household needs. The most common coping strategies to deal with a lack of water in the remaining 7 assessed communities were3,4: Primary drinking water source reported4: Top 3 reported methods of 100+86+29++ garbage disposal3,4: Reduce drinking water consumption 100% 58% Network Modify hygiene practices 86% 37% Water trucking Left in street/ public area 51% Drink water usually used for other purposes than drinking 29% 5% River Buried or burned 23% 58+37+5+0+0+0+A Public free collection 23%

3 Multiple choices allowed. 6 4 By percent of communities reporting. Deir ez-Zor Governorate, February 2018

FOOD SECURITY Food sufficiency:

29 Communities reported not having received a food distribution in the last 12 months. 0 Communities reported that residents were unable to purchase food at shops and markets.

17 communities reported that residents experienced no challenges in accessing food. The most common difficulties experienced in the remaining 22 assessed communities were3,4: Deir-ez-Zor 77+73+55+27+23+9+ Some items too expensive 77% Lack of resources to buy food 73% Decrease in local food production 55% Some items unavailable 27% Lack of access to market 23% Lack of available cooking fuel 9%

Insufficient food reported Governorate capital Somewha