Geneva (The Palestine Telegraph Megazines) 22 January
2026 – The United Nations described the situation in Syria as "very
tense" due to ongoing clashes between government forces and opposition
groups. A deepening humanitarian crisis affects 16.5 million people needing
assistance across the country. UN officials called for immediate ceasefire
observance and unhindered aid access to civilian areas.
United Nations officials reported a "very tense"
security environment in Syria on 21 January 2026, marked by intensified clashes
in northwest and central provinces. The UN Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented 450 civilian casualties over the past
week. Humanitarian agencies face unprecedented access restrictions,
exacerbating needs for 7.2 million internally displaced persons.
The latest violence concentrated around Idlib, Homs, and
Deir ez-Zor, where government offensives targeted Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
positions. UN Secretary-General António Guterres received briefings from
Special Envoy Geir Pedersen, who confirmed 12,000 families displaced since 15
January. Aid convoys experienced shelling near Aleppo, delaying medical supply
deliveries.
Current Clashes and Security Developments
Syrian government forces advanced 15 kilometres into
southern Idlib, capturing three villages according to state media SANA.
Opposition sources reported drone strikes hitting 22 targets, including
makeshift hospitals. Russian airstrikes supported ground operations, logging 87
sorties since 18 January per Russian Defence Ministry statements.
Turkish observation posts in Idlib vicinity elevated alert
levels, with drone surveillance covering 200 square kilometres daily. Hezbollah
units withdrew from frontline positions following 10 casualties. UN
Disengagement Observer Force recorded 45 ceasefire violations along the Golan Heights
buffer zone.
OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke stated during a Geneva press
briefing, "The security situation remains very tense across Syria."
He cited 3.5 million people in acute food insecurity phases 4 and 5. Medical
evacuations stalled for 1,200 patients requiring dialysis.
Humanitarian Crisis Dimensions
Credit: UNICEF/UN0591072/Taxta
UNICEF reported 2.1 million children facing acute malnutrition, with 650,000 requiring urgent treatment. Water contamination affected 4 million in Deir ez-Zor governorate after Euphrates pumping stations halted operations. WHO documented 1,800 suspected cholera cases since October 2025.
16.5 million Syrians – 72 per cent of the population –
require humanitarian assistance in 2026, per UN estimates. Funding appeals
secured $2.8 billion of $8.7 billion requested, leaving critical gaps in
shelter and winterisation programmes. 6.2 million refugees hosted in
neighbouring countries received $1.2 billion UNHCR support.
Cross-border aid from Turkey delivered 1,200 tonnes of
supplies through Bab al-Hawa crossing before temporary closure on 20 January.
Jordanian corridors facilitated 450 truckloads into Daraa province.
UN Agency Statements and Assessments
Special Envoy Pedersen told the Security Council on 20
January that political negotiations remain stalled since Astana process
suspension. He recorded 150 mediation contacts with Damascus, Ankara, and
Moscow without progress. Guterres appealed for "de-escalatory
measures" in his 21 January statement.
OCHA's 2026 Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview detailed $8.7
billion requirements, prioritising northeast and northwest regions. Laerke
confirmed 45 per cent of health facilities non-functional in opposition-held
areas. Protection cluster reported 1,800 grave violations against children in
2025.
UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission verified 2,300 civilian
deaths from January to December 2025, highest since 2021. Arbitrary detentions
numbered 4,500 cases under investigation.
Regional Actor Positions
Credit: duvarenglish.com
Turkey's Foreign Ministry reported 950,000 Idlib residents under protection, with 25 observation posts operational. Defence Minister Yaşar Güler confirmed artillery exchanges with regime positions. Ankara hosted Syrian opposition delegation on 19 January, pledging military sustainment.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia defended operations
as counter-terrorism, citing HTS UN designation. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
proposed constitutional committee resumption under Astana guarantors. 47
military hospitals treated 12,000 casualties since July 2025.
Iran's UN envoy Amir Saeid Iravani reaffirmed ground support
to Damascus, reporting 320 personnel rotations. Hezbollah Secretary-General
Hassan Nasrallah announced frontline adjustments preserving strategic
positions.
Aid Delivery Constraints and Incidents
12 UN convoys denied entry at 35 checkpoints since 10
January, per WFP logistics cluster. Shelling damaged three warehouses in Hama
storing 800 tonnes of flour. ICRC suspended field operations in rural Latakia
after convoy attack injuring four staff.
Cross-line deliveries reached 250,000 beneficiaries in Homs
with nutritional supplements. Air bridge from Amman delivered 180 tonnes of
trauma kits to Damascus International Airport. Prepositioned stocks sustain 1.5
million for three months in northwest hubs.
Winter storms compounded needs, with 800,000 lacking
adequate shelter. Fuel shortages halted 65 per cent of bakeries in Deir ez-Zor.
Displacement Patterns and Refugee Flows
IOM verified 450,000 new displacements since October 2025,
primarily to Turkey border camps. 117,000 crossed into Türkiye since 1 January,
straining 3.6 million existing refugees. Lebanese Armed Forces repelled 8,500
arrivals at Arsal perimeter.
Jordan hosted 92,000 new entries near Rukban, activating
border reception centres. Iraq reported 15,400 Syrian arrivals in Dohuk
governorate. UNHCR registered 2,800 unaccompanied minors separated during
flight.
Host country support packages totalled $1.1 billion,
including $450 million Turkish cash assistance. Lebanon suspended work permits
for Syrians pending security vetting.
Security Council Deliberations
Credit: AP photo/Yuki Lwamura
15 January open briefing featured France's veto threat against resolution softening. UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward called for "immediate humanitarian pause." China abstained from recent draft, citing sovereignty principles.
Geir Pedersen presented quarterly report documenting 1,200
mediation failures. Briefers confirmed 320 attacks on civilian infrastructure
since July 2025. Council president Indonesia scheduled Arria-formula meeting on
25 January.
Draft elements circulated for technical roll-over of
cross-border mechanism through July 2026. 13 members expressed readiness
pending Damascus consultations.
Economic and Infrastructure Impacts
World Bank estimated $12.4 billion reconstruction needs for
2026, prioritising electricity grid repairs. 90 per cent of hospitals lack
consistent power. Fuel imports secured 180,000 tonnes via Tartus port.
Syrian pound depreciated 18 per cent against USD since
November. Central Bank rationed $900 million reserves for essentials. Wheat
imports covered 85 per cent requirements through June harvest.
UNDP documented 7.2 million food insecure, with 2.9 million
dependent on e-vouchers. Agricultural output declined 22 per cent from
pre-conflict levels.
International Donor Contributions
US announced $450 million package targeting northeast NGOs.
Germany committed €200 million winter response. Kuwait pledged $100 million
through Islamic Relief Agency.
Qatar delivered 650 tonnes medical supplies via military
airlift. Saudi Arabia hosted pledging conference securing $1.2 billion
commitments. EU allocated €650 million neighbourhood instrument.
Japan provided $80 million non-food items prepositioning.
South Korea dispatched 12 water treatment units to Aleppo.
Medical and Protection Needs
WHO treated 1.2 million consultations in 2025, 40 per cent
trauma-related. Polio vaccination campaigns reached 2.8 million children before
access closures. 650,000 received mental health support.
UNFPA distributed 1.1 million dignity kits to women.
Gender-based violence reported 15,400 incidents requiring response. Child
protection partners reunified 2,100 separated children with families.
Mine action teams cleared
1,800 hectares, destroying 12,000 devices. 340 civilian casualties from
unexploded ordnance in 2025.
Upcoming Diplomatic Initiatives
Astana guarantors convene 28 January in Sochi. UN-Arab
League envoy resumes Damascus shuttle 25 January. Friends of Syria group meets
Riyadh 30 January.
OIC Secretary-General convenes extraordinary session 27 January. EU foreign ministers discuss 23 January sanctions review. League of Arab States ambassadors brief 24 January.