On Saturday, Feb. 7, prolonged heavy rainfall triggered sudden flash floods in the governorates of Latakia, Idlib, and Hama, creating a challenging humanitarian situation. The floods inundated residential areas and displacement camps, particularly in western Idlib, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure.
Damage Caused
The torrential rains and flooding resulted in widespread damage across displacement camps in Idlib Governorate. A total of 24 camps were affected, impacting 931 families, approximately 5,142 individuals.
Damage ranged from partial to complete destruction. Seventeen camps suffered total collapses, destroying the shelters and belongings of 494 families. An additional seven camps sustained partial damage, affecting 437 families.
The floods also caused significant material losses, including damage to small commercial shops and the collapse of roads within and around the camps. Outside the camps, floodwaters submerged 30 houses in the Sheikh Hassan area of the Latakia countryside and 47 houses in Idlib Governorate.
Urgent Response Measures
Civil Defense teams from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management launched an immediate response to protect residents and meet urgent needs. Teams responded to distress calls, rescued individuals trapped by floodwaters, and evacuated patients and displaced persons from high-risk areas. Efforts also focused on securing safe access routes for affected families and humanitarian workers.
The field response plan prioritized evacuating stranded families, organizing traffic, and securing flood-damaged roads. Support operations were initiated to facilitate the delivery of emergency assistance and remove obstacles hindering humanitarian teams.
Key actions included rescue operations, pumping and draining accumulated water, and reopening roads closed by high water levels. Machinery and operational centers from affected areas and neighboring regions were mobilized, with multiple specialized teams deployed to ensure a rapid response and limit further damage, particularly in Kharbat al-Jouz in western Idlib and the Latakia countryside.
As part of the emergency response, eight temporary shelter centers were established in schools to accommodate families affected by flooding in western Idlib. For medical safety, staff and patients from Ain al-Bayda Hospital were evacuated to hospitals in Jisr al-Shughour and Idlib city. Meanwhile, social affairs teams distributed blankets, mattresses, and other essential supplies to residents of the damaged camps.
In Darkoush, the town council and local committees responded after the Orontes River overflowed, flooding homes and shops. Local emergency committees evacuated residents from both riverbanks as water levels rose. About 25 households were evacuated following precautionary power cuts to prevent electrocution risks, and shelter centers were prepared to receive displaced families.
