Disasters in Syria

Syria has 14 governorates, but disaster services are not delivered uniformly across the country. Earthquake risk remains high in the northwest after the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake, while floods affect river corridors, flash-flood areas and parts of Idlib and northern Latakia. Drought and water scarcity are especially persistent in the northeast and along the Euphrates. Heat, dust storms, wildfires, winter storms and landslides can become more severe when roads, bridges, electricity, water systems or health facilities are already damaged. Climate conditions are increasing the likelihood of combined drought and flood pressures through hotter temperatures, drier conditions and irregular rainfall. The MEDM acts as Syria's national alerting authority under Decree No. 91/2025. Public warnings are distributed through ministry alerts, meteorological channels, local authorities and media, but no nationwide cell-broadcast or single emergency application has been established in the available evidence. SARC provides ambulance and first-aid operations around the clock through emergency line 133. Civil Defence, governorate authorities, line ministries, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations also support response, but Syria has no confirmed nationwide 112 or 911 equivalent for every disaster. A comprehensive national disaster-risk-reduction plan was still in its final stage on 12 March 2026. Preparedness includes SARC's 14 branches and 71 local units, emergency training, fire prevention, firebreaks, risk communication and the pre-positioning of supplies. White Helmets emergency programmes have been integrated into the MEDM since June 2025, with operational arrangements still developing. A nationally verified household emergency-kit standard, evacuation-path registry and shelter map have not been established in the available evidence. Recent events show the practical consequences. Flooding in Idlib and northern Latakia in February 2026 affected about 5,300 displaced people across 21 sites, damaged or destroyed about 2,000 tents and led to the evacuation of a private hospital. Flooding along the Euphrates in June 2026 directly affected about 17,000 people, displaced 700 families and caused nine deaths by drowning. Forty-nine water-treatment plants stopped operating, including 46 in Deir ez-Zor, while bridges and river crossings became unusable in some areas. An embankment and pumping system continued supplying about 400,000 people, showing how strongly water access depends on functioning protective infrastructure. Ministry statements reported 2,367 fires in the first quarter of 2026 and an average response time of about eight minutes, but local capacity varies. Evacuation usually depends on the event and the area. People may move to host communities, collective centres, mosques, schools or nearby camps, and automatic transport or accommodation cannot be assumed. Water levels, damaged roads, collapsed bridges, electricity, safety conditions and access restrictions can change which paths remain usable. Follow official warnings, report fires early, avoid floodwater and contaminated water, and do not enter damaged buildings without competent advice. Assistance is generally organised through rapid assessments, registration and referrals by SARC, UN agencies or local partners. Programmes may provide water, sanitation, shelter, food, health services, protection, cash, fuel or temporary water delivery to affected households, displaced people, returnees and host communities, with priority often given to children, women, people with disabilities and areas facing severe conditions. Humanitarian assistance normally carries no direct charge where a programme is active, but private transport, rent, medicines, fuel and water delivery may create personal costs. In 2026 planning, 15.6 million people were identified as needing humanitarian assistance and 8.6 million were targeted, while coverage remained dependent on funding and access. No universal entitlement to disaster compensation, insurance payment or state relief was established in the available evidence. Recovery can take weeks to years. UNDP programmes support water, electricity, health, education, roads, sewage, livelihoods and local governance across all 14 governorates. REVIVE activities include debris clearance, road and utility rehabilitation, mine-risk education, recycling and cash-for-work. Damaged infrastructure has wider effects: only about 57% of hospitals and 30% of primary healthcare centres were fully operational in the cited assessment, and about 10 million people could not meet their basic water needs. Electricity failures can interrupt water pumping, health services and vaccine refrigeration, so restoring power, water and safe access often determines whether other services can resume.