Syria: Nearly 50,000 people stranded at Jordanian border

Event

Nearly 50,000 people are stranded at Syria's southern border with Jordan, according to a statement released by the United Nations (UN) on Monday, August 14. The area has been deemed increasingly unsafe as Syrian government air strikes have targeted the area in the past few days, in an attempt to capture rebel-held areas. A UN spokesperson stated that the humanitarian situation on the border was dire. 

Syrian state media said on August 11 that government forces had captured key strategic areas along the Jordanian border. The security situation may worsen in the coming days as Syrian government forces continue their offensive to recapture territory and close rebel smuggling routes, used to bring both weapons and rebel fighters into the country from Jordan.

Context

Jordan closed its border with Syria in June 2016, after an Islamic State (IS) car bomb attack near Rukban killed seven Jordanian border guards. Since then, aid groups have struggled to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians trapped on the border.

Syria is enmeshed in a civil war that started between the government of Bashar al-Assad and opposition forces in March 2011. Today, the conflict in Syria involves many parties, including the Syrian, Iranian, Turkish, and Russian governments, the United States-backed coalition, and various armed groups.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some countries banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.