Today's top news: Syria, DRC

Syria

The Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim, El-Mostafa Benlamlih, expressed deep concern today in a statement about the implications of the closure of Aleppo International airport. The airport was hit by airstrikes on 7 March. It has been forced to shut down until further notice. According to the Syria Ministry of Transport, all flights carrying earthquake aid had to be diverted to either Damascus or Lattakia.

The closure could have severe humanitarian implications for people in Aleppo - one of worst earthquake impacted governorate in the country - but it could also affect the wider vulnerable population who need humanitarian assistance.

All UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights from Aleppo have been suspended. These flights transport humanitarian partners and humanitarian cargo, including life-saving health supplies, such as tetanus vaccines, testing equipment for blood transfusions and diabetes medication, across Syria.

OCHA call on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including by taking all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities. In addition, humanitarian air services must resume without delay so that emergency assistance can continue to reach those in need.

8.8M people in need of assistance

The UN and humanitarian partners continue to scale up the ongoing response. As of today, 648 trucks loaded with aid provided by seven UN agencies have so far crossed to north-west Syria since the earthquakes using the three available border crossings.

The earthquake affected at least 8.8 million people across Syria. Most of these people are expected to need at least one form of humanitarian assistance. Thousands have become homeless as more than 10,600 buildings have been completely or partially destroyed in north-west Syria.

As of 6 March, more than 4,500 deaths and 8,700 injuries have been reported in north-west Syria since the earthquake struck Türkiye on 6 February.
 

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

More than 20,000 people have been displaced in North Kivu, in the east of the country, amid recent clashes between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group.

Residents in the Kibirizi area – which is about 120 kilometers from Goma – were forced to flee due to fighting in surrounding villages.

Over the past year, more than 800,000 people have been displaced by renewed fighting between Congolese forces and the M23, according to authorities and our humanitarian colleagues.

OCHA calls all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, protect the civilian population, and secure access to populations in need of humanitarian assistance.