Intense fighting between opposition factions and the Syrian army has forced 280,000 people to flee their homes since November 27, according to the United Nations. The figure is expected to rise significantly, with the UN warning that up to 1.5 million people could be displaced if the violence continues.

The displacement began after a surprise offensive led by opposition factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, disrupted an already fragile situation in Syria. Samer Abdel Jaber, Emergency Coordinator for the World Food Program (WFP), highlighted the gravity of the situation during a press conference in Geneva.

“The figures we have indicate 280,000 people displaced since November 27,” Abdel Jaber said, noting that this number, updated as of Thursday evening, does not account for individuals who fled from Lebanon amid recent escalations in fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

The offensive coincided with a tenuous ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, where clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, had caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee into Syria.

The WFP has expressed deep concern over the compounding humanitarian crisis in Syria, where more than 13 years of civil war have left millions in need. Abdel Jaber described the new wave of displacements as “a crisis on top of a crisis,” calling for urgent funding to address the escalating needs.

“Our priority is to secure access routes to deliver aid to the affected communities,” Abdel Jaber said. “If the situation continues to evolve at the current pace, we anticipate that around 1.5 million people will be displaced and will require our support.”

The UN and humanitarian organizations are ramping up efforts to respond to the crisis but emphasize the critical need for additional resources to provide life-saving assistance.