Implications of the Fuel Crisis in Syria
While there have been frequent fuel shortages in Syria since the crisis began, the current situation is unprecedented. The shortages have been crippling daily aspects of life since approximately the beginning of December and the severity of the fuel crisis became particularly acute during December.
The crisis has impacted nearly every sphere of life in Syria and continues to wreak havoc in the country, thus adding to the already dire economic situation. In the past, when such shortages occurred, fuel was available, albeit at prohibitive prices for most. Today, fuel is simply unavailable, no matter the price. As a mitigation measure, the Government announced an exceptional 10-day holiday for its employees from 25 December until 1 January 2023, in addition to 11 and 18 December. The Government is also preparing a rationing plan for all fuel consuming facilities to ensure the available quantities of fuel suffice for the longest time possible, until new shipments arrive in the country.
The fuel crisis is having a pernicious effect on the UN and partners’ ability to continue its work, which in turn directly impacts people in Syria in need of humanitarian assistance. While short-term solutions have been discussed and are being implemented, long-term solutions are urgently needed to address the crisis and prevent its re-occurrence in the future.
Impact on Multisectoral Humanitarian Assistance
OCHA surveyed Syria sector coordinators and the UN Country Team to ascertain the extent to which the fuel crisis has impacted UN operations and humanitarian assistance during December 2022.
All or most partners reported reduced site visits, delays in projects, reduced working hours and reduced field missions. Life-critical sectors like WASH, Health and Shelter/NFI were among the most severely impacted. Millions of people across Syria have been affected as a result of this crisis. The UN operations have also been heavily impacted as many UN agencies and humanitarian partners have had to make drastic reductions to their regular working hours, numbers of field missions and frequency of distribution of humanitarian assistance and provision of services.
The fuel crisis has disrupted ongoing and planned projects and affected the ability of humanitarian partners to conduct site visits. In some areas, up to 40 per cent of humanitarian aid distributions and/or missions have been canceled by Shelter/ NFI partners. At least 1,000 families did not receive winterization assistance in November and December because partners could not reach them.
WASH partners reported that due to the lack of fuel required for vehicles and equipment, the national staff in water authorities have been unable to conduct daily operation and maintenance work that is essential to operate water and sanitation system. The disruption in the provision of WASH interventions and delivery of water (current frequency being once per 7-50 days) has directly affected vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas.
The number of affected people is estimated by the WASH partners at 4,100,000.
The estimated reduction in the frequency of water production could reach 50 per cent if the current crisis continues.
Similarly, the Health partners reported severe disruptions affecting the sector, including a 30-40 per cent reduction in mobile clinics, up to 70 per cent of the ambulance system being impacted, all 87 WHO supported hospitals running at reduced capacity, and a 70-80 per cent increase of operational costs for investigation and response to disease outbreaks.
One hundred and twenty Protection partners were surveyed between 29 December and 3 January. Sixty-seven per cent of the respondents said their organizations reduced the number of targeted geographical areas, 56 per cent reduced the number of targeted beneficiaries, 45 per cent reduced the number of services provided, while 43 per cent suspended the mobile teams work and 41 per cent stopped the outreach activities.
Overall, the Education sector was heavily affected by the fuel crisis. Around 30 per cent of teachers in non-formal projects were unable to reach the schools due to unavailability/or high costs of transportation. Up to 50 per cent of students could either not reach the learning centres or there was no electricity to run courses. Monitoring visits reduced by half and working hours of some partners were modified to respond to the fuel shortage during December.
Early Recovery & Livelihoods sector partners reported similar constraints, including having to suspend a vocational training centre in Aleppo; delays in rehabilitation of seven schools in various parts of the country; delays in rehabilitation of sanitation systems, water networks, boreholes and a bakery in Palmyra, Aleppo, Dar’a, Rural Damascus and Homs, and difficulties with installing 750 solar streetlights in Damascus and Rural Damascus because fuel could not be secured for heavy vehicles necessary for the project.
The fuel shortage has also affected the purchase prices of supplies and transportation to targeted areas for the food security and agriculture (FAS) response. Project staff have more difficulties in reaching office or implementation areas as well as beneficiaries to reach distribution points. Sixty per cent of staff are unable to reach the offices in Deir-ez-Zor, 40 per cent in the south governorates and 25 per cent in coastal areas. One FAS partner reported an estimated 200 per cent increase in the cost of a vehicle rental to carry out operational activities.
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs