General documents - MEPS CALLS FOR URGENT HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF FLOODING IN NORTHWEST SYRIA - Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries

Joint statement by the European Parliament's Chair of the Committee on Development, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), the Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid, Norbert NEUSER (S&D, DE), the Standing Rapporteur for Syria, Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) and the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT)

Brussels, 29 January 2021

Following the news that severe rain and flooding have damaged several camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northwest Syria, the European Parliament's Chair of the Committee on Development, Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), the Standing Rapporteur for Humanitarian Aid, Norbert NEUSER (S&D, DE), the Standing Rapporteur for Syria, Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR) and the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT) said:

"Recent flooding in northwest Syria has caused tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to lose their tents, food and belongings. Roads to the camps are damaged and people are in urgent need of shelter, food and medicine. They lack adequate sanitary facilities and access to fuel for heating in harsh winter conditions.

The humanitarian situation in northwest Syria was already alarming before the flooding occurred. Despite the ceasefire, ongoing hostilities in the region have resulted in a number of civilian casualties and the decade of conflict has eroded the resilience the Syrian people, and the IDPs especially. The global pandemic has only worsened the situation.

The international community must provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the affected communities in northwest Syria to ensure that they do not face further hardship and loss. The European Commission should ensure that funding is made available to humanitarian partners operating in northwest Syria who can reach the affected communities rapidly."

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Background

Tens of thousands of people in northwest Syria, primarily internally displaced persons (IDPs), have been affected by severe rain and flooding over the last two weeks. UN OCHA reports that 'at least 196 IDP sites in Idlib and Aleppo reportedly sustained damage, with many roads leading to the camps cut off by heavy rains'. As of 27 January 2021, at least 67 600 people have reportedly been affected. The floods have also destroyed more than 3 760 tents in the IDP camps, and damaged over 7 720.

Syria has an estimated 7 million internally displaced persons, 2.7 million in northwest Syria, many of whom have been displaced multiple times.