RefWorld
21 March 2012
According to the Syrian Red Crescent (SRCS), over 200,000 people have become internally displaced since the Syrian uprisings which started in April 2011. However, accurate figures on internal displacement are increasingly difficult to ascertain due to government imposed restrictions preventing international agencies from reaching displaced populations.
The humanitarian situation for IDPs has reached critical levels. Security forces’ tactics have included sealing off the cities of Dara’a, Hama, Homs and Idlib, cutting off electricity, water and food supplies and using heavy armament. Such measures have resulted in an indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force against civilians. Further to this, reports of security forces laying mines along Syrian borders, which endangers civilians seeking refuge outside of the country, means that the options for displaced individuals are becoming increasingly limited.
