Humanitarian organizations operating in northwestern Syria have issued urgent warnings as the number of displaced families fleeing relentless attacks by Assad regime forces and their allies has surged dramatically. The escalation, marked by an alarming increase in attacks over the past few months, has forced tens of thousands of civilians to abandon their homes, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis as winter approaches.
The Syria Response Coordinators, an organization monitoring displacement, reported that over 10,728 families – totaling 57,432 individuals – have been displaced from their homes in Idlib and Aleppo. The figures are expected to rise as the relentless bombardment continues across residential areas and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The Syrian Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets, highlighted the dire conditions faced by those fleeing the violence. “Hundreds of families continue to flee from the eastern Idlib countryside and western Aleppo countryside as the regime forces and Russia intensify their attacks with airstrikes, artillery, and missiles,” the organization said in a statement. “Our teams are assisting civilians evacuate from the areas under attack and preparing centers to shelter the displaced. The continued attacks are worsening the humanitarian situation and threatening lives, forcing people to leave their homes on the cusp of winter.”
The group emphasized the compounding challenges of falling temperatures and insufficient shelter, warning that displaced families face life-threatening conditions in overcrowded camps that lack essential supplies.
The Office of Humanitarian Action Coordination (HAC) released a statement detailing the scope of the crisis and calling for an immediate, coordinated response. “Amid the ongoing military escalation in northwestern Syria, intense bombardment has caused waves of displacement, resulting in human casualties and extensive damage to properties and infrastructure,” the statement read.
HAC called upon humanitarian organizations to expand their efforts and prioritize urgent needs, particularly food, shelter, healthcare, and winter supplies. “We emphasize the importance of joint coordination to ensure aid reaches all those in need effectively and promptly,” the statement added while reaffirming that the Bab al-Hawa border crossing remains operational for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
The forced displacement of tens of thousands of civilians has also galvanized the revolutionary military factions of the Command of Military Operations (CMO) coalition to launch defensive operations aimed at halting the attacks and reclaiming villages lost to Assad regime forces. Spokesman Lt. Col. Hassan Abdulghani stated that the Repelling the Aggression operations are intended to protect civilians and prevent further displacement.
“The regime’s sustained assaults are part of a deliberate campaign to empty villages and towns, leaving civilians with nowhere to turn,” a representative from the Syria Response Coordinators said. “The displaced are caught between escalating violence and harsh living conditions in the camps.”
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, organizations have called for the international community to step up support for displaced Syrians. Many displaced families, already struggling with food and water shortages, now face the added burden of frigid winter temperatures without adequate shelter or heating. For the civilians of northwestern Syria, the combination of unrelenting violence and a worsening humanitarian situation shows the urgent need for relief and protection.
