UN agencies enter northeastern Syria's Al-Hol camp

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) entered the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria together with government officials on Friday, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, reported Xinhua.

"UNHCR was also able to establish contact with some camp residents," Dujarric said. "Essential supplies have also resumed. Trucks carrying bread entered the camp today (Friday), facilitated by UNHCR, following a three-day interruption caused by the volatile security situation inside the camp."

He said that in addition, water trucking services organized by UNICEF (the UN Children's Fund) and facilitated by UNHCR were delivered Thursday, helping to partially restore access to basic services for the camp population.

The refugee agency, UNICEF, the UN Population Fund, the World Food Programme, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and their non-governmental organization partners reached the entrance of Al-Hol camp on Thursday, said Dujarric. They accessed key facilities located outside the camp perimeter to support the resumption of water services, but were unable to enter the camp due to the security situation, he said.

The spokesman said the agencies and their partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the government in delivering humanitarian assistance, while emphasizing the critical need to ensure security inside the camp. They also highlighted the importance of facilitating the movement of personnel and supplies between the major cities of Al-Hasakah and Qamishli in Al-Hasakah governorate.

UN humanitarians reported that road access to the city of Kobani in northern Syria along the border with Türkiye has closed.

OCHA said that UN partners operating in the city on Friday expressed concern about the risk of the humanitarian situation getting worse following the road closures. Interruptions to power, water and internet services hamper access to basic services.

UN partners reported shortages of food and other key items, OCHA said, adding that health facilities are operating with reports of medicine shortages.

In the northwestern city of Aleppo, a UN team met with authorities to discuss additional support and is engaging with its partners to conduct further assessments and facilitate access.

Edem Wosornu, the director of OCHA's Operations and Advocacy, told the UN Security Council on Thursday that recent clashes displaced tens of thousands of people in Aleppo, disrupting basic services and humanitarian access in Syria's second-largest and heavily war-damaged city.

OCHA said that the United Nations and its partners are providing humanitarian aid following recent clashes in the governorates of Aleppo, Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor.

The World Health Organization reported working with its partners to deliver medical supplies, mobile nutrition services and care for injured children and pregnant women.