More than 1,000 civilians have been reportedly killed, including women and children, and many more injured during a recent surge in violence in Syria’s coastal areas of Hama, Homs, Latakia and Tartous governorates. Unverified reports also indicate that an estimated 51,000 civilians (including 6,000 who crossed the border into Lebanon) have been displaced by the violence.

All health facilities providing essential and life-saving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services have been suspended in coastal areas due to instability, access issues and the safety of both patients and providers. All facilities providing gender-based violence (GBV) services in Latakia and Tartous are also closed.

Humanitarian operations have been severely disrupted; there is no access to displaced families, and all missions to and within coastal areas have been suspended. All mobile teams are currently suspended. Curfews and movement restrictions have been imposed, curtailing access to basic services. Humanitarian access is urgently needed.

The UN, international and local humanitarian actors are prioritizing the provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in need once access allows.