Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 Humanitarian Situation Overview in Syria (HSOS) OVERALL FINDINGS1 Coverage Rankus Rural Damascus is a largely agricultural governorate that surrounds Damascus city. On February 18th 2018, a new ground and air offensive was launched on Eastern Ghouta, further intensifying the already Az- Al severe humanitarian challenges faced by residents. This offensive triggered the largest displacement of Dimas Madaya Zabdani Sidnaya Qutayfah civilians out of the besieged suburbs of Eastern Ghouta since 2013. Many of these civilians relocated At Tall to collective shelters throughout other parts of Rural Damascus and others to Aleppo, Hama and Idleb Ein governorates. For more information on displacement please see the April 1-14, IDP Situation Monitoring Elfijeh Initiative (ISMI) Rapid Assessment of Evacuations from Eastern Ghouta to North-West Syria. LEBANON Harasta Duma Dhameer In 10 of the assessed communities, mainly in Kafr Batna sub-district, Key Informants (KIs) estimated that Qudsiya only 1-25% of the pre-conflict population remained. Furthermore, KIs in 4 of the assessed communities DAMASCUS Arbin Kafr Batna reported that members of the pre-conflict population had left in April, primarily due to an escalation of Nashabiyeh Markaz Jaramana conflict. An estimated 578,150 IDPs were reportedly residing in assessed communities, with the majority Hajar residing in Qudsiya (approximately 437,500). Pre-conflict populations and IDPs in the majority of the Qatana Darayya Maliha AswadBabella Haran assessed communities reportedly lived in independent apartments or houses. However, for both IDPs and Sahnaya pre-conflict populations in Duma, private spaces not meant for shelter were the most commonly reported Al'awameed shelter types. Additionally, unlike March, where 8 of the assessed communities reported a lack of fuel, all of the assessed communities reported having access to a sufficient amount of fuel in April. This could be Bait attributed to fuel prices dropping significantly from March to April. For example, the price of diesel was Jan Kisweh Ghizlaniyyeh 2,018 SYP in March, and in April, the price dropped to 348 SYP. KIs reported healthcare and protection as two of the top priority needs in the assessed communities Sa'sa' throughout Rural Damascus. This is significant as15 of the assessed communities reported facing barriers to accessing healthcare, most commonly due to security concerns when travelling to facilities. The majority of the communities with security concerns were located to the east/northeast of Damascus city, indicating QUNEITRA DAR'A that the security situation in these neighbourhoods was not stable in April. In terms of water, 7 communities Communities assessed (20 of 243) AS-SWEIDA reported that the water tasted and/or smelled bad. Additionally, Qudsiya and Duma reported having an Sub-districts with communities assessed (9 of 36) insufficient amount of water to cover household needs. Furthermore, 16 of the assessed communities reported experiencing difficulties in accessing food with the high cost of some items and a lack of resources to purchase available foods being the most commonly reported challenges. However, food prices dropped Top 3 reported priority needs Demographics* significantly since March, when core food items (i.e. bread, rice, lentils, sugar, cooking oil) were nearly quadruple the Syrian average prices. While this price drop seemed to improve the situation throughout the 1. Healthcare people in need assessed communities (i.e. in March four communities reported residents went days without eating and 3,261,246 this was not reported in April), the majority of communities still reported using coping strategies to deal with 2. Food security a lack of income. In 15 of the assessed communities, KIs reported residents borowing money from family 1,686,064 1,575,182 and friends as a coping stratagy. Additionally, KIs in Kisweh and Sabbura communities reported that some 3. Protection * 2 Figures based on HNO 2018 population data for the children were being sent to work or beg as a coping strategy . entire governorate. KEY EVENTS Offensive on Eastern Ghouta Reported increase in malnutrition Medical supplies reportedly Convoy buses carrying displaced Increased hostilities in Rural Largest displacement of civilians escalates across more than half and deaths among children removed from convoy delivering aid people en route from Rural Damascus as a new air and out of the besieged suburbs east a dozen towns and cities in the and adults in heavily besieged to Duma, another convoy left before Damascus to northern Syria land offensive is launched4. of Damascus since 20136. area3. Eastern Ghouta. distributing all aid due to shelling5. reportedly attacked7. October - December 2017 November - December 2017 18 Februray 2018 5 March 2018 Mid-March 2018 April 2018 Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 Governorate areas of influence: Area of influence Sourced from Live UA Map, 30 April 2018 Opposition Groups Opposition - Free Syrian Army (Olive Branch/Euphrates Shield) LEBANON Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF-coalition) Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) ISIL-affiliated groups Damascus Assessed Community UNDOF Area of Operation Golan Heights 2 Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 DISPLACEMENT Estimated percent of pre-conflict population (PCP) displaced from community: Estimated number of IDP arrivals 0 in assessed communities in April. Estimated number of spontaneous 0 returns in assessed communities in April2. Communities with the largest estimated number of IDP arrivals: No IDP arrivals reported DAMASCUS Top 3 sub-districts of origin of most IDPs arrivals: No information 16 communities reported no PCP departures. Top 3 reasons for PCP displacement in the remaining 4 assessed communities3,4: Estimated % of pre-conflict population displaced Escalation of conflict 100% from community Sub-district with one or more assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month Loss of assets 50% 0-24% 25-49% 75-100% 50-74% Sub-district with no assessed communities reporting spontaneous returns this month Opening of borders 25% 3 Multiple choices allowed. 3 4 By percent of communities reporting. Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 SHELTER AND NFI Fuel sufficiency: Primary source of electricity 20 communities reported no lack of fuel. reported:4 60% Network ++++ 35% Generator 5% Solar power 60+35+5A DAMASCUS Governorate average reported rent price in Syrian Pounds (SYP) across 11,906 SYP assessed communities.5 6,108 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 88 90% Insufficient fuel reported Sub-district with assessed communities 88% +5+ Sufficient fuel reported ++ ++ Sub-district with no assessed communities Collective public space 6 5% Governorate capital 6% +5+ Private space not for shelter 6 5% Reported fuel prices (in SYP)5: ++ ++ 6% Governorate average Governorate average Syrian average price Fuel type: price in April: price in March: in April: Coal (1 kilogram) 456 408 280 Diesel (1 litre) 349 2,018 227 Butane (1 canister) 3,238 3,967 5,940 Firewood (1 tonne) 55,000 160,417 53,131 3 Multiple choices allowed. 4 4 By percent of communities reporting. 5 1 USD = 434 SYP (UN operational rates of exchange as of 1 April 2018) Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 HEALTH Presence of health facilities in assessed communities: 3 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 0 to give birth. 5 communities reported that residents experienced no barriers to accessing healthcare services. The barriers in the remaining 15 assessed communities were3,4: 80+53+33+20+13+13+7+0 Security concerns when traveling to facilities 80% DAMASCUS Disability/injuries/illness preventing travel 53% Old age 33% Healthcare services too expensive 20% Security concerns to enter/remain in facilities 13% No health facilities available in the area 13% High cost of transportation to facilities 7% No health facilities reportedly available in area Sub-district with assessed communities Health facilities reportedly available in area Governorate capital Sub-district with no assessed communities 14 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 6 services reported3,4: problems reported3,4: 3,4 communities were : 100+17+ Rehabilitation services 55% Acute respiratory infections 55% Recycling medical items 100% Using non-medical items for treatment 17% Antenatal care 45% Psychological trauma 40% Psychosocial support 40% Chronic diseases 30% 3 Multiple choices allowed. 5 4 By percent of communities reporting. Rural Damascus Governorate, April 2018 WASH Water sufficiency for household needs: 7 Communities reported that water from their primary source tasted and/or smelled bad. 0 Communities reported that drinking water from their primary source made people sick. 12 communities reported that residents had no problems with latrines. The most 3,4 prevalent problems with latrines in the remaining100+75++++++ 8 assessed communities were : Blocked connections to sewage 100% Inability to empty septic tanks 75% DAMASCUS