Local Governance Structures and Humanitarian Responses to the Earthquake in North-West Syria

Download or read book Local Governance Structures and Humanitarian Responses to the Earthquake in North-West Syria written by and published by . This book was released on 2023 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The aid sector in opposition-held areas of northern Aleppo and Idlib in Syria is complex and challenging, with numerous actors assisting millions of people in need in a context of shifting control dynamics between different armed actors. The opposition Syrian Interim Government (SIG) and the Salvation Government (SSG) have established various committees to control aid distribution. However, both struggle with limited financial resources, weak governance and a lack of international recognition, resulting in fragmented and inefficient aid delivery. The effectiveness of early response efforts in these regions is significantly impacted by factors such as fragmentation of governance structures, overlapping mandates, frequent leadership changes, an absence of regulations, politicisation of aid and the influence of armed factions. There is a notable difference between the approaches of the SSG and the SIG to dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake, with the SSG focusing on image and control while the SIG struggles with coordination and authority concerns. The SSG has adopted a hands-off strategy toward humanitarian organisations, emphasising leadership, centralising response measures and striving to overcome international isolation. The SIG has encountered problems like insufficient supervision of subordinates, poor coordination among local councils and a failed presence on the field. Non-governmental organisations have played a vital role in responding to the earthquake crisis in conflict-affected areas, carrying out rescue operations and providing emergency assistance and damage evaluation while collaborating with local communities and external aid providers. Syrian NGOs have been confronted with obstacles such as the vast area impacted by the earthquake and a need for additional equipment and machinery to handle the extent of the damage. The response of international assistance was slow and was plagued by bureaucratic and political complications. The UN's preference for crossline aid delivery was perceived as a pretext to conceal its inability to respond quickly in the early hours after the earthquake. The current situation demonstrates the importance of improved readiness and collaboration between international organisations and local actors to guarantee prompt and effective responses to future catastrophes.