As of December 6, 2024, the United Nations reported that approximately 280,000 people have been displaced in Syria since November 27 due to escalating clashes between rebel forces and the Syrian military, primarily driven by the Islamic group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
Samer AbdelJaber, the director of emergency coordination at the World Food Programme (WFP), provided this update during a press conference in Geneva. He noted that the figure does not account for individuals fleeing from Lebanon amidst renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel.
AbdelJaber stated, “If the situation continues to evolve at the current pace, we collectively expect that about 1.5 million people will be displaced and will require our support in Syria.”
The mass displacements coincide with a fragile ceasefire established in Lebanon, where the ongoing conflict has forced hundreds of thousands to seek refuge in Syria.
The WFP highlighted that these new displacements, occurring more than 13 years into Syria's civil war, add to years of suffering for the affected populations. AbdelJaber emphasized the urgent need for additional funding to meet the immense needs of these communities and ensure aid delivery routes are established.