The snowstorm “Norma” is battering Northeastern Lebanon with heavy snow, rain and strong winds affecting nearly 250,000 refugees.  Hundreds of refugee camps and settlements in the area from the Akkar Plain to Bekaa Valley have been devastated by the storm.  The camps house thousands of Syrian refugees in little more than tents and improvised wooden structures. Please click here to read the full press release. 

On December 26, unusually heavy rainfall caused severe flash flooding in Northern Syria along the Turkish Border and in Northern Aleppo. Hundreds of tents were washed away in Atma, Dana, Sarmada and Qah in the northern countryside of Idlib. The area is largely desert and valleys with poor drainage.  The tents are canvas and fixed to the bare ground with dirt roads connecting them. Over 250,000 refugees in these areas have been affected with many shelters, food and water stocks ruined by flooding. Please click here to read the full press release.

At least 55,000 people are at risk in Al Rukban refugee camp. According to community workers, 15 people have died this month alone, among them two babies. On October 8, in less than 24 hours, two babies died in the camp. 4-month-old Huda Raslan died from malnutrition and lack of medical access. Munaf Al Mahmoud, a one year old baby, died due to the lack of adequate medical care.   In addition, there are 150 cases in urgent need of medical care.. Many of the internally displaced persons are women and children. The camp is in a desert with harsh living conditions. Severe malnutrition is widespread. No medical or humanitarian aid has been allowed in the area since January 2018. Please click here to read the full press release. 

Three hospitals, two Syrian Civil Defense Centers, and an ambulance system were attacked and put out of service in the past two days leaving thousands with no access to medical care. All three hospitals are underground facilities. Please click here to read the full press release. 

As of 9:30 pm Damascus time, at least 217,000 people have been internally displaced from Daraa, with little to no access to food, clean water, shelter and medical care. The number is expected to rise dramatically as more people continue to flee the relentless bombings. Since June 19th, 157 people have been killed and at least 350 wounded, many of whom are women and children. Please click here to read the full press release. 

Yusuf Ayyash, a UOSSM warehouse worker was killed today at 7 p.m. Damascus time by an airstrike, along with his wife and daughter. This is the third UOSSM staff member to be killed in Daraa in less than a week. 

A UOSSM volunteer ambulance driver, Abdulhadi Al Hariri, was killed today at 1 p.m. Damascus time in a targeted “double tap” attack as first responders were headed to evacuate wounded victims of an attack in Busr Al Harir, Daraa. Al Hariri was already transporting one wounded victim as the ambulance was targeted by an airstrike, but not directly hit. The driver was already transporting one wounded victim as the ambulance was targeted by an airstrike, but not directly hit. Abdul hadi radioed in that he needed emergency help. First responders desperately searched for him for over four hours only to find him in the ambulance, killed by the second attack.. Al Hariri was volunteering with UOSSM and the Syrian Civil Defense (White Helmets). Please click here to read the full press release. 

An UOSSM midwife, Maysoun Harbat, and her daughter were killed on June 21 at 5:00 p.m. Damascus time as a result of heavy shelling in Al-Harak in the Daraa country side. Harbat's other daughter survived but has sustained serious injuries. The attacks coincide with a dramatic escalation of violence in Daraa over the past two days which has resulted in at least five civilian deaths, numerous injuries, and medical staff scrambling to deal with the influx of patients. Please click here to read the full press release. 

On June 7 at 9:15 PM Damascus time, airstrikes bombarded the village of Zardana in rural Idlib killing at least 44 people including six children and one doctor, and injured over 80. Early reports indicate a “double tap” strategy was employed killing and injuring first responders. Many of the injured were internally displaced persons from Ghouta, and some of the injured were taken to UOSSM’s Bab Al Hawa Hospital.

Please click here to read the full press release. * Warning- the images on the bottom of the press release are graphic