Northwest Syria Evacuations Surge as Fighting Intensifies
More than 100,000 people have fled their homes in northwest Syria amidst the worst military escalation in the region in over four years, with weary families now facing sub-zero temperatures without adequate shelter or food.
Fierce street battles in Hama city, coupled with relentless shelling and airstrikes, are driving the mass exodus. Aid organizations warn that the situation is rapidly deteriorating, with Hama witnessing heavy fighting and airstrikes today, expected to further increase the number of displaced people.
“More than 100,000 people have been displaced so far, and we’re expecting the numbers to increase even further as the escalation spreads to areas like Hama,” said Rajab Saleam, Islamic Relief’s head of office in Idlib. “Fighting, shelling and airstrikes have been ongoing in Hama throughout today. People being displaced are in need of food, medical care, and support. We are delivering aid across Idlib and Aleppo and we are now preparing to respond to the growing humanitarian needs in Hama too.”
The crisis comes after 13 years of turmoil, leaving many families in northwest Syria already struggling with extreme poverty and hardship.
Hospitals Targeted, Schools Closed
The recent escalation has seen civilian infrastructure bear the brunt of the violence, with hospitals and schools targeted by airstrikes.
One Islamic Relief-supported cardiology health center, the only facility of its kind in northwest Syria offering free heart surgeries, was hit, forcing its closure.
Schools have had to suspend lessons, and blood banks are grappling with an overwhelming demand for blood transfusions as wounded civilians flood in.
“Over the last three days four major hospitals in Idlib shut down,” an Islamic Relief staff member said, recounting his haunting experience inside Aleppo’s largest hospital after it was struck. “All of these were hit by multiple airstrikes in Idlib city. And the biggest hospital in Aleppo city was attacked by an airstrike just two days after the government left the area.”
“I was there, I saw blood on the floor, a number of casualties among staff and dialysis patients. It was shocking to see blood on the floor of the hospital.”
Desperate Needs, Urgent Appeals
Islamic Relief is working tirelessly to provide urgent relief, distributing heating materials and daily bread supplies to more than 10,000 families. Hundreds of tonnes of flour have been provided to keep bakeries operational, and mobile health clinics are deployed across Idlib and Aleppo governorates.
However, the organization urgently calls for increased international support.
“We are calling for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure across northwest Syria, and for safe humanitarian access to people in need,” Islamic Relief said in a statement.
“We are calling for international donors to step up commitments to meet the increasing needs in Syria.”
What immediate actions can the international community take to address the urgent needs of civilians affected by the conflict in Northwest Syria?
## Interview: Humanitarian Crisis in Northwest Syria
**Host:** Joining us now is Rajab Saleam, head of Islamic Relief’s office in Idlib, who has been on the ground witnessing the devastating situation unfolding in Northwest Syria. Rajab, thank you for being with us.
**Rajab Saleam:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Can you describe the situation in Northwest Syria right now?
**Rajab Saleam:** The situation is dire. Over 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the past few days alone, driven by relentless shelling, airstrikes, and street battles, particularly in Hama city. [[1](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/syria-civil-war-live-updates-insurgents-storm-aleppo-rcna182271)]These families are facing freezing temperatures without adequate shelter, food, or medical care.
**Host:** How are aid organizations responding to this escalating crisis?
**Rajab Saleam:** We are working tirelessly to provide emergency relief to these displaced families. Islamic Relief is delivering food, water, blankets, and other essential items across Idlib and Aleppo, and we are now preparing to scale up our response in Hama. But the needs are immense and growing every day.
**Host:** What are your biggest concerns right now?
**Rajab Saleam:** We are deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire. The fighting shows no signs of abating, and we fear that the number of displaced people will continue to rise. We urgently need more international support to provide humanitarian aid and protect civilians from further harm.
**Host:** Rajab Saleam, head of Islamic Relief’s office in Idlib, thank you for sharing this critical information with us.
**Rajab Saleam:** Thank you for having me.
