Security Concerns Prevent Aid Access to Coastal Syria Amid Clashes
By Kardo Roj
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The Syrian Red Crescent (SRC) stated on Monday that while aid teams have reached parts of Tartus, Banias, and some villages in Latakia and Jableh, several areas remain inaccessible due to ongoing security concerns.
The humanitarian situation in Syria’s coastal regions has deteriorated following days of intense clashes between Syrian security forces and armed groups, suspected of links to remnants of the former regime. The violence has left thousands without essential services, including electricity, food, and medical care.
An SRC official told North Press that 25 specialized response teams, comprising 100 volunteers from Tartus, Latakia, Hama, Idlib, and Homs, have been deployed. Equipped with ambulances and refrigerated vehicles, the teams focus primarily on first aid and emergency relief. However, continued insecurity has made it difficult to reach many injured individuals.
“Some locations are completely cut off due to security risks,” the official said, adding that the lack of safe access is worsening the humanitarian toll. In addition to medical assistance, urgent efforts are underway to rehabilitate water stations and restore basic infrastructure.
Eyewitnesses in the affected regions describe dire conditions, with families struggling to secure food and clean water. Communications with residents indicate that some villages have been isolated for several days, leading to fears of worsening malnutrition, particularly among children.
North Press received multiple distress calls from residents in besieged areas, reporting a critical shortage of food, medicine, and baby formula. “People here are running out of options. No power, no bread, no way out,” one resident said.
The latest escalation in coastal Syria highlights the fragile security landscape in government-held territories, where sporadic clashes continue between state forces and armed elements. The violence in the coastal region also reflects broader instability, as various factions vie for control in different parts of Syria.
In northeast Syria, the Autonomous Administration (AANES) has maintained relative stability through governance structures supported by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Unlike government-controlled areas, where security crises frequently disrupt daily life, the AANES has implemented measures to ensure sustained humanitarian access.
The SRC has warned that prolonged inaccessibility could deepen the humanitarian crisis, particularly if aid deliveries remain restricted. Calls for urgent intervention have grown, with humanitarian organizations urging all parties to facilitate safe passage for relief workers.
While international efforts focus on broader humanitarian aid distribution across Syria, the situation in the coastal region remains precarious. If no immediate solution is found, relief groups fear a significant rise in civilian casualties and displacement.