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Syria: Wild Fires - Oct 2020

Status
Past
Countries
Syria
Disaster types
Wild Fire

[L]arge scale fires across the coastal regions in Syria have caused at least three deaths and dozens of injuries, with areas in Al Fakhoura, Al Qirdaha, Jableh and Lattakia districts in Lattakia Governorate and Safita district in Tartous Governorate particularly affected. While assessments are ongoing, local authorities report that up to 28,000 households have been directly impacted, including through casualties or medical conditions, with as many as 80 hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. In addition, significant loss of homes, personal possessions and/or livelihoods assets have been reported in some areas. As many as 25,000 people were reported to have displaced. Further, a significant number of households have been impacted due to disruptions in key public services, such as health, water and power supply. To date, an estimated 5,000 hectares of agricultural land, including orchards, olive trees, and greenhouses, and 4,000 hectares of forested land have been destroyed. (OCHA, 11 Oct 2020)

Between 8 and 12 October 2020, the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea has witnessed massdestructive wildfires which is becoming a recurring annual event due to climate change...One of the hardest hit countries is war-torn Syria, where wildfires has killed 3 people and left around 80 injured with breathing complications and skin burns. Most of the rugged mountainous areas were obliterated in western countryside of Homs province, the eastern countryside of Tartus, and the northern countryside of Latakia. These fires caused material and environmental damage, burning homes of residents, agricultural crops, large parts of vegetation, forests, and nature reserves. Through the initial assessment of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) conducted from October 8 to date by local branches in Latakia, Tartus and Homs, the fires had significant damage reported in 179 villages and forestry points, affecting more than 40,000 families through injuries, temporary displacement, loss of houses and assets, and majorly loss of livelihoods (lands, corps, and livestock). (IFRC, 23 Oct 2020)

Seasonal wildfires...have been among the factors limiting food production. More than 35,000 hectares of agricultural land are estimated to have burned this year. That will have a long-term impact on food production and on the livelihoods of at least 40,000 families. (OCHA, 27 Oct 2020)