UN: Over 190,000 Displaced in Southern Syria As Clashes Escalate
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United Nations says more than 190,000 people have been displaced in southern Syria since July amid violent unrest, mounting casualties, and restrictions on humanitarian access due to continued fighting.
It reported that over 190,000 people have been displaced across Suwayda, Dara’a, and the outskirts of Damascus since early July.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the violence has severely disrupted relief efforts.
"Very few people — about 120 — have reportedly returned to their communities, primarily to the Salkhad District in Suwayda," he said, citing data from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He warned that access restrictions and limited resources have made it increasingly difficult to respond to urgent humanitarian needs.
Clashes over the weekend temporarily shut down the only humanitarian route into Suwayda, which is critical for aid deliveries and evacuations.
Although the road reopened on Monday, Dujarric noted that the main highway between Damascus and Suwayda has remained closed since July 12.
Health services in Suwayda and Dara’a are under immense pressure, with maternal care, trauma treatment, and chronic disease management severely affected.
"These services must be urgently scaled up," Dujarric said.
The conflict intensified on July 13 when local disputes over land and resources triggered violence between Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters.
On July 14, militants from Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) — a group led by former al-Qaeda commander Abu Mohammed al-Jolani — entered the region, leading to a sharp escalation in violence.
HTS has been accused of extensive human rights abuses, particularly targeting minority groups, drawing widespread international condemnation.
According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, more than 1,000 people have been killed since July 13, including 47 women, 26 children, and six medical workers.
The group reported that the death toll surged following the entry of HTS forces and the intensification of fighting in Suwayda.
