Flash Update #1 on Coastal Area Violence in Syria - March 2025

The recent surge in violence in Syria’s coastal areas of Hama, Homs, Latakia and Tartous governorates have reportedly resulted in more than 1,000 civilians killed, including women and children, and many more injured. Initial reports also indicate that an estimated 51,000 civilians have been displaced by the violence.

All health facilities providing essential and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services have been suspended in coastal areas due to instability, access issues and the safety of both patients and healthcare staff. All facilities providing gender-based violence 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. While all implementing partners have suspended interventions due to the insecurity, UNFPA, along with other agencies, has been coordinating with local governmental bodies, the Humanitarian Action Coordination office, partners, as well as sub sectors and interagency groups, to facilitate the resumption of interventions. 

In the meantime, UNFPA has delivered critical supplies to five partner organizations in Latakia and three partners in Tartus to address the needs of affected populations. 176 inter-agency reproductive health kits and 2,400 dignity kits have been provided. UNFPA, in collaboration with the Syrian Youth Council, have also organized a blood donation campaign in Jableh to bolster local blood supplies in response to pressing needs arising from the violence.