Mass Displacement and Humanitarian Crisis in Sweida, Syria

Strategic Insights -

Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes in Sweida, Syria, due to sectarian violence and armed clashes between government forces, Druze militias, and Bedouin tribal fighters. The crisis has left nearly 2,000 families without a stable place to live, with many unable to return home due to damage, looting, or destruction of their homes. The health systems in the region are also facing critical strain, with reports of shortages in medical supplies, power outages, and the occupation of health facilities by armed groups.

Key Takeaways:

  • Nearly 2,000 families have been displaced from violence-affected areas in Sweida governate and are currently sheltering in a dozen collective sites.
  • Many families are unable to return home due to damage, looting, or destruction of their homes, leaving them without a stable place to live.
  • The health systems in Sweida and neighboring Dar'a governorate are operating without power and facing severe supply shortages, putting patients and staff at risk.
  • At least two doctors were killed in the recent clashes, and some armed groups have occupied health facilities, putting patients and staff at risk.
  • The UN and its partners are mobilizing humanitarian assistance as security allows and working with authorities to facilitate access.
  • WHO has dispatched 35 trauma and emergency surgery kits for 1,750 interventions, but many remain undelivered because of constrained access.
  • The UN has expressed concern over the security situation in the region, urging all parties to protect people caught up in the violence, including by allowing them to move freely to seek safety and medical assistance.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 2,000 families have been displaced from violence-affected areas in Sweida governate.
  • The health systems in Sweida and neighboring Dar'a governorate are operating without power.

Sources:

  • UN humanitarian office (OCHA)
  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
  • United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert