After weeks of aerial bombardment by the Syrian air force and their Russian backers, combined with a ground offensive, the Syrian government troops have retaken the city of of Saraqeb, which is located at the crossroad of the highway linking Damascus to Aleppo in the last rebel-held province, Idlib, in North West Syria. As the Syrian army was gaining more territories, Turkey sent reinforcements seeking to curtail the offensive and threatened to use force to compel the Syrian forces to retreat by the end of the month. Clashes between the Turkish and Syrian armed forces generated casualties on both sides.

The increase in airstrikes and shelling across the Idlib province has caused the displacement of nearly 700,000 people since 1 December 2019, according to OCHA. People are fleeing north, seeking safety while the areas to settle are reducing.

The already critical situation for the population in NorthWest Syria is worsening. As the frontline continues moving, the space becomes increasingly limited. People are facing harsh weather conditions and they have to struggle to find a tent to stay in at overcrowded camps, not to speak of rooms to let in cities or villages.

To respond to the needs of newly arrived IDPs, some of whom are in the open air. MSF has distributed NFI in several IDPs camps and is running watsan activities. And early February, MSF has made donations to first line trauma hospitals to help them to cope with the situation.