UN Delegation Visits Northwestern Syria to Monitor Humanitarian Projects

A United Nations (UN) delegation, led by Deputy UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator David Cardin and World Health Organization President Dr. Rosa Cristani, recently entered the northwestern region of Syria through the Bab al-Salama border crossing with Turkey. The purpose of their visit was to assess the progress of various humanitarian projects, marking nearly one year since a devastating earthquake struck the area on February 6, 2023.

The delegation’s itinerary included visits to the city of Azaz, north of Aleppo, and the city of Jindires in the Afrin countryside. During their tour, they inspected several centers and projects operated by organizations that receive grants from the UN. The presence of Lorena Nieto, Coordinator of the Protection Cluster at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and other humanitarian and relief workers underscored the significance of the delegation’s mission.

The earthquake that struck the region on February 6, 2023, with magnitudes of 7.6 and 7.8 on the Richter scale, resulted in widespread devastation, causing a humanitarian crisis that left tens of thousands of victims and hundreds of thousands displaced. The UN delegation’s visit aimed to evaluate the ongoing efforts to address the aftermath of this catastrophe and provide necessary assistance to the affected population.

This visit follows a previous UN delegation’s trip to the Idlib countryside last October, where they assessed the conditions of displaced camps in northwestern Syria following a bombing campaign carried out by Syrian regime forces and Russian aircraft. The inspection of camps, shelters for the displaced, and health facilities was conducted in response to the region’s exposure to the bombing campaign, which resulted in the loss and injury of numerous civilians and IDPs.