Aleppo – behind the numbers
Frontline humanitarian workers capture the heartache and hopes of the recently displaced.
As displacement continues and humanitarian needs are growing we are working around the clock to equip shelters with partitions, to offer families warmth and privacy.
With so much attention on the numbers of people fleeing fighting, UNHCR staff and partners on the ground share a rare glimpse into the lives of those desperately seeking safety.
After months living under besiegement, thousands of east Aleppo residents crossed the line of fire to find safety. Families arriving were exhausted and traumatized.
Namaa’s Out-Reach Volunteers are in the Mahalej shelter ready to welcome newly arriving families. New arrivals have complex needs – but are greeted with a helping hand.
Insufficient and inadequate shelter space continues to be one of the most pressing humanitarian needs on the ground. We are upgrading shelters and boosting capacity to respond to the growing needs.
Families are gradually being moved out of large shelter halls into more private spaces.
Upon arrival, volunteers are welcoming the children with a Psychological First Aid (PSA) session as an ice breaker and to help the arriving children adjust to the new environment.
Aleppo, a once thriving city, witnessed ferocious fighting. The UN had no direct access to the besieged east of the city for five months.
The level of destruction in Hanano neighbourhoods was shocking. “There’s a lot more damage than meets the eye” expressed Mustafa, our Senior Protection Assistant in Aleppo.
On December 2, a joint UN team visited Hanano and surrounding neighbourhoods to assess people’s humanitarian needs. Buildings were heavily damaged and inadequate for shelter, especially in winter.
Urgent winter assistance provides warmth to displaced persons temporarily taking shelter in damaged buildings in Hanano neighbourhood. As temperatures drop, already difficult living conditions are getting harder for people in Aleppo.
“The children are so full of life! They give us the energy we need to carry on with our response.” Said Frederick Wilkinson, UNHCR’s Protection Officer in Aleppo.
A 75 year-old man barely made it out of besieged Eastern Aleppo, his grandchildren dragged his wheelchair through the rubble. “All I want is to be in a house now, but the whole building is completely destroyed.” He is now receiving treatment at a clinic.
In emergency situations, there’s only time for quick meetings between colleagues to share updates and plan. The rest of the time is spent in the field, addressing the urgent needs of those who have had to flee their homes.
UNHCR and partners on the ground provide protection services, including psychological counselling. Many of those arriving are deeply traumatised, including children.
Our colleague Reem noticed this young child was holding a broken camera, she asked the little photographer to take a selfie with her and he happily accepted.
Face painting is very popular among the children. As described by one of Al-Taalouf’s Out-Reach Volunteers, this cute 4-year-old girl, displaced from east Aleppo took it very seriously as they applied it on her face!
As displacement continues and humanitarian needs are growing we are working around the clock to equip shelters with partitions, to offer families warmth and privacy.
After living under the shadow of war for six years, children relish a chance to be children. “Their wonderful spirit renders me speechless”, said an outreach volunteer.
Psychological counselling and recreational activities are being provided – many children who have arrived are deeply traumatised.
"Are you here for the recreational activity! I wait for it everyday." Said the 5 year-old to our colleagues during their monitoring visit to Mahalej shelter.
The 4-year old’s eyes sparkled as she had her face painted by a volunteer. “I can’t wait to show it to my mother!”.
Insufficient and inadequate shelter space continues to be one of the most pressing humanitarian needs on the ground, especially in the cold weather.
The weather is very cold in Aleppo and the large, open spaces in the Mahalej shelter isn’t helping. People are burning cardboard and papers to get some warmth.
Things on the ground change quickly – one day children at Mahalej have an open space to play in, the next, families arrive and need shelter.
On December 10 and 11, an estimated 6,750 newly displaced persons arrived from east Aleppo to the Mahalej transitional shelter. New arrivals line up to register their names in order to receive much needed humanitarian support.
We are working with partners to quickly rehabilitate structures to boost shelter capacity and secure a warm, safe place for the displaced families.
Newly arrived families wait for their turn to enter the shelter. Capacity is stretched at Mahalej – UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations are scaling up the operation to meet people’s needs.
UNHCR and partners are working around the clock to meet the urgent need for shelter. Due to extremely cold weather, many families ask to move in even if the space is unfinished.
An 11-year old child from Salheen in east Aleppo waits with his family in the shelter. The young man impressed our colleagues with his resilient spirit, he says he’s eager to go home as soon as possible.
UNHCR staff check on families – mostly from the Salheen neighbourhood – who have been in the shelter for five days. They have all received vital winter items and are receiving 2 hot meals a day.
Our colleague Afran met this 4-year-old child in the Mahalej shelter. The child currently lives alongside 17 other family members in one shelter space.
UNHCR and its partners are scaling up their humanitarian response in Aleppo to meet the needs of the newly displaced, as well as those previously displaced in western Aleppo. Alongside food, water and protection services, one of the most pressing humanitarian needs is finding secure shelter for the newly displaced.
Mustafa Rihawi contributed to reporting from Aleppo.