Context Update - Whole of Syria - August 2023

The month of August was marked by several developments in Syria, all of which underline the current challenges facing the country's various centers. Aid access to the NWS remains an urgent concern. Although the UN announced that it had reached an "agreement" with the Syrian government regarding access to aid via Bab al-Hawa, obstacles persisted in August. Delays and a lack of clarity surrounded the consent-based mechanism, resulting in a sharp reduction in aid deliveries. The humanitarian situation in the northwestern states deteriorated, with shortages of basic necessities such as bread and drinking water.