UN: Number of Aid Beneficiaries in Southern Syria Drops by Nearly 70%

ARK News.. The United Nations has announced a sharp decline in humanitarian assistance reaching southern Syria, noting that the number of beneficiaries in the governorates of Sweida, Daraa, and Rural Damascus decreased in October by nearly 70% compared to September, due to funding shortages and access constraints.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the United Nations and its partners continue to provide humanitarian support in southern Syria despite the significant pressure caused by financial cuts, explaining that aid is reaching more than 350,000 people in the region each month.
According to the office, the World Food Programme continues to supply around 400 tons of flour weekly to support public bakeries, while UNICEF has helped rehabilitate several schools in Sweida governorate.
The OCHA statement noted that partners working in the water and sanitation sectors supported water trucking operations in Daraa and Sweida governorates, delivering 19,000 cubic meters of drinking water and providing 78,000 liters of fuel to keep water and sanitation facilities running during October.
The statement also indicated that humanitarian organizations and local authorities are working to strengthen essential services and meet urgent needs, including repairing parts of the electricity network.
OCHA warned that the $3.2-billion Humanitarian Response Plan for Syria has been funded by only about a quarter so far, receiving roughly $823 million, which further undermines the operational capacity of humanitarian organizations.
The statement added that the security situation in southern Syria remains unstable in an area that hosts more than 180,000 displaced people, with sporadic security incidents limiting movement and humanitarian access, particularly in rural areas.

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