Four Years of Human Suffering: The Syria conflict as observed through satellite imagery

During the last four years UNOSAT has documented a wide range of dramatic events directly linked to the impact on civilian life and the corresponding human suffering the people of Syria has endured and still face today. These research findings have been provided to the requesting UN sister agencies since the onset of the Syria conflict.

As this report clearly shows, we have observed dramatic instances of reprisal, increasing number of deaths, indiscriminate attacks on civilian population, including barrel bombing, areas besieged by different opponents in the conflict, destruction of schools, hospitals, residential areas, markets, power plants and the vast cultural heritage of Syria. We have used satellite imagery to assist in the planning, building and monitoring of refugee camps the size of cities. Internally displaced people have been located in the satellite imagery in order to facilitate delivery of life saving humanitarian relief. Over the last year, UNOSAT has provided regular updates to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs related to monitoring of UN Security Council resolution 2139 on humanitarian access to the civilian population. Detailed damage assessments have been carried out through the REACH Initiative and widely shared with the humanitarian community. UNOSAT has also collaborated with the World Bank to document damage to residential areas in contribution to future reconstruction planning. The power of satellite imagery is today used for many aspects related to the humanitarian crisis in Syria.