NEWS CENTER - Military confrontations in the Afrin district of Aleppo governorate since 20 January have displaced an estimated 137,070 people, says the report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

 

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a report on the last situation in Afrin on March 29, 2018. The report also gives statistics and information on the humanitarian situation in Afrin between January 20 and March 29.

 

According to the report having the title Syrian Arab Republic: Afrin, Flash Update No. 2, following a prolonged period of military operations in the Afrin district of Aleppo governorate since 20 January 2018, some 137,070 individuals from Afrin district are estimated to have been displaced to Tall Refaat, Nabul, Zahraa and surrounding villages, and to Kafr Naseh and Fafin, east of the Tall Refaat area.

 

The report underlines that there is a serious crisis in delivering  the basic needs of the displaced people and states that food, nutrition, NFIs, health and wash assistance sufficient for 50,000 people in need in Tall Refaat were delivered by convoy.

 

Additional funding required

 

The report also states that a UN cross-border shipment is being prepared to cross from Turkey to Afrin between 02 and 06 April. The convoy will contain NFIs, clothing kits, reproductive and dignity kits and food for the affected population in Afrin district. “The UN and partners in Damascus are facing a $73m funding gap to respond with life-saving assistance and protection services to all those displaced from Afrin district and are urgently appealing for additional funding,” announces the report.

 

A possible secondary displacement

 

The report says, “According to partners on the ground, the number of displaced individuals appears to be stabilizing, however, any further hostilities in Tall Refaat could trigger a possible secondary displacement towards Menbij and Al Hassekeh. Small scale onward movement from Tall Refaat area to Menbij (1,000 individuals) and Al-Hassakeh governorate (820 individuals) has already been noted.”

 

The report also gives information on the humanitarian situation in Afrin city and says the water shortages in the city continue to be a concern.