LWF Country Director for Jordan and Syria Ameera Khamis visits a dialysis center in Aleppo which is among the healthcare facilities that LWF supports. Photo: LWF Jordan/Syria
A new rebel offensive has led to deaths, displacement and suspension of many key public services
(LWI) - Renewed fighting in war-torn northwestern Syria has led to the suspension of all humanitarian and emergency support services that The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and its partners provide to communities already suffering from over 12 years of civil war. More than half a million people have died and some 13 million Syrians have been displaced in one of the world’s largest refugee crises.
Earlier this week, opposition armed groups launched a major new offensive against Syrian government forces, capturing a large swathe of land including the country's second city, Aleppo. Reports from the region say opposition forces are now battling the military near the city of Hama, while the government’s main ally, Russia, is carrying out retaliatory air strikes.
LWF Country Director for Jordan and Syria, Ameera Khamis said the security situation in the Aleppo Governorate, where most of its services are concentrated, remains “critically volatile.” In just one week, she said, at least 69 people have been killed, including women and children, with many more injured. “Thousands of families have been forced to flee, often with minimal possessions, facing extremely challenging winter conditions,” she added.
Fear of air strikes
LWF has been present in Syria since 2019, working through local partners including the Greek Orthodox Church, the Assyrian Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church’s Caritas network and a local community-based organization. Following the devastating earthquake which struck the region in February 2023, LWF has stepped up its activities, providing both emergency food and hygiene kits, as well as supporting healthcare facilities, the rehabilitation of homes and schools, and capacity building for local organizations in child protection and psychosocial support.
“Since last week, all activities in Aleppo have been suspended and most international non-governmental organizations have evacuated their staff,” Khamis said. “There is a curfew, and people are afraid to leave their homes because of the risk of air strikes or street fighting,” she noted. “Here at LWF, we are in regular contact with our partners and our one local staff member has been evacuated to Jordan while we monitor the situation.”
Although roads between Aleppo and the capital, Damascus, have been closed, Khamis said people are continuing to flee from the fighting. In Aleppo, she said that hospitals, power and water systems, bakeries and other public services “are either non-functional or operating with significant limitations.”
Our team remains dedicated to supporting those most affected by this crisis.
– LWF Country Director for Jordan and Syria, Ameera Khamis
Khamis noted, if the hostilities continue, public health services will come under increasing pressure. LWF is exploring emergency support strategies to respond to the most critical needs of people, she said, including food and shelter, winterization kids and essential health services.
“Our team remains dedicated to supporting those most affected by this crisis,” Khamis insisted. “We are committed to resuming our humanitarian operations as soon as conditions allow, with an unwavering focus on providing life-saving assistance and support to communities in need,” she concluded.
