I. Introduction
1. The present report is the thirty-seventh submitted pursuant to paragraph 17 of Security Council resolution 2139 (2014), paragraph 10 of Council resolution 2165 (2014), paragraph 5 of Council resolution 2191 (2014), paragraph 5 of Council resolution 2258 (2015) and paragraph 5 of Council resolution 2332 (2016) in which the Council requested me to report, every 30 days, on the implementation of the resolutions by all parties to the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic.
2. The information contained herein is based on the data available to United Nations agencies on the ground, from the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic, other Syrian sources and open sources. Data from United Nations agencies on their humanitarian deliveries have been reported for the period from 1 to 28 February 2017.
Box 1
Key points in February 2017
(1) Despite the ceasefire that has been in effect since 30 December 2016, continued fighting in multiple areas around the country resulted in further civilian deaths and injury as well as destruction of civilian infrastructure.
(2) Two inter-agency convoys proceeded in February, reaching 191,500 people. On 5 February, a joint United Nations/International Committee of the Red Cross/ Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy reached Talbisah, and, on 12 February, another such joint convoy reached 107,500 beneficiaries in Rastan. On 20 February, after a convoy destined for Wa‘r was forced to turn back, trucks were diverted, aid was taken and drivers were abused.
(3) The situation in eastern Ghouta (Rif Dimashq), where hundreds of thousands of people are being besieged in a number of towns and surrounding rural areas, deteriorated throughout the month amid reports of shelling, air strikes and ground fighting.
(4) On 23 February, Free Syrian Army fighters, supported by Turkey and fighting under the banner of Operation Euphrates Shield, captured Bab. The fighting to take the city over the past several months displaced some 45,000 people.
(5) Government of Syria forces launched an offensive against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in southern rural Manbij and Khafsah subdistrict. As a result, an estimated 26,000 civilians were displaced in Arimah, Manbij and Khafsah subdistricts.
(6) In Dar‘a, a new offensive launched by the Government of Syria on 12 February displaced nearly 18,000 people and forced the humanitarian actors using the Ramtha border crossing point with Jordan to suspend operations.
(7) On 4 February, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the third phase of the Operation Euphrates Wrath. An estimated 42,000 people have been displaced and civilian infrastructure (particularly bridges) has been destroyed.