17 March 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – On the 14^th anniversary of the start of the Syrian conflict, WHO is calling for predictable, multi-year funding to sustain critical humanitarian health services and enable a stable transition towards recovery and national unity. 

Continued instability threatens essential health care delivery at a time when nearly 15.8 million people require urgent health assistance. Only 57% of Syria’s hospitals, and just 37% of primary health care centres, are fully operational. Shortages of medical supplies, outdated equipment and damaged infrastructure continue to strain services. Many hospitals operate at minimal capacity or close due to funding shortfalls.. Across northwest and northeast Syria, 246 health facilities are at risk of imminent closure due to lack of funds. 

Three out of four  people in Syria rely on humanitarian aid and require urgent development assistance. Malnutrition rates have tripled in the past 4 years, placing Syria among the world’s top 10 hunger-affected countries. 

“Keeping humanitarian health services running is essential as Syria moves towards recovery. Any break in humanitarian aid could deepen vulnerabilities and leave more people without care,” says Acting WHO Representative in Syria Christina Bethke. 

“The transition presents an opportunity to rebuild, but it must be managed carefully. WHO remains committed to supporting Syria, working closely with the Ministry of Health and health partners.” 

With up to 70% of Syria’s health workforce having left the country, WHO stresses that rebuilding healthcare capacity is essential. “Investing in medical training, upskilling, and education programmes is critical to restoring the workforce and ensuring sustainable health services,” Bethke added. 

To sustain essential health services, strengthen emergency response, enhance disease surveillance and rebuild a resilient health system, WHO requires US$ 141.5 million in 2025, including a US$ 56.4 million emergency flash appeal. With an 81% funding gap, urgent support is needed to prevent further deterioration. 

On 17 March, the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria will convene to mobilize global support and resources for the country’s transition. Ahead of the conference, WHO calls for a well-managed shift from humanitarian aid to long-term recovery, greater investment in rebuilding Syria’s health workforce and predictable, multi-year funding to ensure continuity of care and stability. 

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In Damascus, Syria: Halah Kabash, هذا البريد محمى من المتطفلين. تحتاج إلى تشغيل الجافا سكريبت لمشاهدته.  
In Gaziantep, Türkiye: Mrinalini Santhanam, هذا البريد محمى من المتطفلين. تحتاج إلى تشغيل الجافا سكريبت لمشاهدته.

15 March 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – During 14 years of conflict, Syria’s health workers served tirelessly on the frontlines, braving airstrikes to deliver babies, rescuing the wounded from rubble and keeping hospitals functioning.

With Syria now at a hopeful crossroads, their voices tell a story of resilience, but also of a health system under immense strain. As Syria moves forward, ensuring a functioning health system with trained, equipped and supported health workers will be critical for long-term recovery and stability.

“We must not wait for stability to return. We must shape it.” – Khawla Al-Najjar, midwife, Aleppo

Photo credit: WHOIn Aleppo, midwife Khawla has delivered babies in the darkest moments of Syria’s crisis. 

“I used to walk more than four hours under fire, moving from one village to another, knowing I was the only health provider for safe deliveries. I never knew if I'd return to my family, but it never stopped me. Seeing a newborn healthy and safe motivated me to keep going," Khawla says. 

Like so many others, Khawla has endured profound hardships, yet she remains unwavering in her belief that Syria can heal. “Mothers trusted me with their lives – I couldn’t let fear stop me.”

“We are exhausted from the conflict, but ready to rebuild.” – Dr Firas Mustafa Shash, surgeon, Aleppo

Photo credit: WHODr Firas Mustafa Shash, a general surgeon at the Al-Taalouf Charity Association clinic in rural Aleppo and a resident doctor at Al-Razi Hospital in Aleppo City, describes the immense pressures healthcare workers face.

“Most hospitals here struggle to function, keeping us in constant crisis mode. Every day brings impossible decisions – patients needing intensive care but lacking enough beds.”

In rural Aleppo, Dr Firas sees 20 to 40 patients daily, many elderly, children, or displaced. With the nearest fully equipped hospital over 110 kilometers away, accessing timely care is challenging.

Yet Dr Firas remains hopeful. “Every patient treated brings Syria closer to healing. If we rebuild hospitals, restore medical training, and invest in healthcare workers, we can revive Syria’s health system.”

“No training prepared me for the heartbreak I’ve endured.” – Hala, nurse, Hama

Photo credit: WHOIn Hama, nurse Hala from Al-Birr and Social Services Association remembers her most painful moment. 

“One day, in the middle of a routine procedure, I saw my friend wheeled into the clinic, paralyzed from a missile strike. That moment shattered me.” 

Despite daily hardships, Hala continues her work, often staying beyond her shift to compensate for staff shortages. “Our hospital lacks essential equipment and often runs out of basic medicines, making our jobs harder.” 

“I dream of a health system where no patient is left waiting and impossible decisions aren't necessary – where patients receive care without fearing tomorrow's closures due to funding shortages,” she adds. 

Keeping humanitarian health services running and supporting health workers who carry out this life-saving care are essential as Syria moves toward recovery. A well-planned transition will ensure lifesaving care continues while rebuilding begins. Given ongoing fragility, interruptions in humanitarian aid could worsen vulnerabilities, leaving even more people without care.

“I hope to see more women involved in rebuilding Syria’s healthcare.” – Abeer Al-Suwaid, physiotherapist, Sarmada, Idlib

Photo credit: WHOAt Sham Children’s Hospital in Sarmada, Abeer helps young patients regain mobility. 

“I helped a child take her first steps after surgery despite intense pain," Abeer recalls. "Women health workers often provide special attention and care, especially comforting to children.” 

Hospitals like Abeer's provide care without patient fees thanks to donor support, but without sustained funding, these critical services could disappear. 

“Investing in health workers, especially women who bring unique perspectives, is key for recovery,” says Abeer.

“The hardest days are when our patients' needs are unmet.” – Dr Wedad Alrasheed, physician, Al-Bab, Aleppo

Photo credit: WHOIn Al-Bab, Aleppo, Dr Wedad examines a child who suffers from a severe ear infection and breathing difficulties. Meanwhile, the waiting room is filled with patients waiting anxiously. Like many colleagues, Dr Wedad often works long hours, feeling the heavy weight of the workload.

Years of persistent underfunding have stripped resources, forcing many doctors to work unpaid, underpaid, or voluntarily.

“I envision a future where investment in education and training strengthens Syria’s health system, allowing doctors and nurses to return,” says Dr Wedad.

“A patient’s smile keeps us going.” – Intisar Al-Muhaimid, nurse, Deir ez-Zor

Photo credit: WHOIn Deir ez-Zor, nurse Intisar Al-Muhaimid has served tirelessly for 29 years, including at Al-Furat Hospital. Throughout the conflict, Intisar and colleagues have fought outbreaks of infectious diseases threatening already vulnerable communities. 

“Our work is about helping people,” Intisar says. “A patient's smile or a simple ‘thank you’ keeps us motivated.” 

Intisar hopes Syrians who left will return to help rebuild the country. “I wish we expand our services, secure resources and have enough staff to provide quality care.” 

More than half of Syria’s health facilities are non-functional, severely limiting access to essential care.  Shortages of medical supplies, outdated equipment, and damaged infrastructure continue to strain services. While many hospitals and clinics operate at minimal capacity.

“We need to upgrade our skills to meet today’s challenges.” – Abeer Kdib, nurse, Deir ez-Zor 

Photo credit: WHOAbeer Kdib, a nurse at the National Hospital in Deir ez-Zor for 27 years, frequently contends with misinformation complicating patient care. 

“Rumours spread quickly, causing confusion and fear,” she says. “We need more healthcare professionals trained to address emerging challenges like misinformation.” 

Despite these difficulties, Abeer remains dedicated. “Seeing patients recover and smile as they leave the hospital is our greatest reward.”

“We need a new generation of skilled health professionals.” – Dr Noran Al Faran, physician, Hama 

Photo credit: WHO“We’ve treated children who've lost entire families. We’ve saved lives only to see them return days later, injured again.” 

Dr Noran believes the future depends on strong medical education. “Rebuilding medical schools and hospitals, and ensuring the next generation has the right skills is essential.” 

Between 50% to 70% of Syria’s health workforce has left the country, increasing pressure on the remaining workers. Investment in medical education programmes is needed to sustain emergency and routine services.

“I dream of a Syria where ambulances respond to accidents, not bombings.” – Borhan Jasem Kleeb, paramedic, Azaz 

Photo credit: WHOBorhan remembers the day his ambulance was hit while responding to an airstrike in Homs in 2012. “That day made me realize I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others in emergencies.” 

Borhan lost his entire family in the 2011–2014 siege of Homs. Married now, with 4 children, he continues to serve as a paramedic. 

Rebuilding trust and ensuring sustainable health care requires more than resilience. It is crucial to strengthen leadership, management and funding. Effective governance ensures aid reaches where it is most needed, delivering long-term, reliable care. 

 “As our country shifts towards hopeful leadership, we – as Syrians – must take full responsibility for rebuilding our homeland,” says Borhan. 

“Rebuilding is more than roads and buildings, it means a trusted health care system that protects people, bringing peace and stability.”

Abdulsalam Al-Ali, a WHO- trained local community health volunteer communicates health messages to individuals and households.10 March 2025 – Overcrowding, unsafe sanitation, restricted movement and limited access to secondary health care all contribute to the significant public health challenges faced by more than 42 000 refugees and internally displaced individuals living at Al-Hol Camp in northeast Syria.

Conditions have led to repeated outbreaks of infectious diseases, placing immense strain on medical services and public health surveillance. The resurgence of cholera in 2024 underscored the urgent need to enhance surveillance and early detection systems.

In response to the outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with local health partners, launched a community-based initiative aimed at strengthening disease surveillance within the camp. Starting on 15 November 2024, WHO began integrating community-based surveillance (CBS) into the existing Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS), enabling the rapid detection and reporting of diseases like acute watery diarrhea (AWD) through community channels.

The initiative focused on training and empowering local community health volunteers (CHVs) to identify priority diseases, refer cases to health facilities, contact trace and report disease surveillance information to the camp health authorities. CHVs played a pivotal role during the outbreak by collecting data on AWD and other illnesses and ensuring the timely reporting of health information to local health facilities for quick action. CHVs also conducted community engagement sessions with individuals and households to raise awareness about the risks of waterborne diseases and the importance of seeking health care early, and the role of oral rehydration solution (ORS) in home treatment of mild cases of diarrhoea.

CHV Huda Mahmoud Hamdan said the main goal of her participation was to help the people she lives with. Her task was made easier by the trust people in the camp have in her. She is well known and lives beside them in the same area of the camp. Being well-regarded by neighbours means people are more accepting of her health messages.

As he underlined how his team was offering essential services to people in desperate need, CHV Abdulsalam Al-Ali said the training provided by WHO had greatly improved the ability of volunteers to effectively communicate health messages to individuals and households.

The CBS initiative has proven effective in early disease detection. Since the initiative began, 294 health alerts have been generated, including 123 suspected AWD cases, 96 tuberculosis cases and 62 suspected cases of hepatitis A.

The alerts triggered swift responses from health partners, enabling timely interventions. CHVs played a crucial role in facilitating these faster response times by ensuring the prompt collection of samples for laboratory delivery, providing ORS and referring patients to health facilities for treatment.

The work done in Al-Hol Camp highlights the effectiveness of community-driven surveillance in strengthening public health systems during crises. By empowering local volunteers to improve disease monitoring, the initiative has been pivotal in protecting the health of camp residents. The spread of cholera in Al Hol Camp was more rapidly controlled due to the timely detection of cases at community level and improved hygiene practices – both of which were made possible by the committed efforts of CHVs. Expanding CBS to other high-risk areas will help ensure more effective health interventions and bolster the overall public health response across the Syrian Arab Republic.

Nurse Fawziya carefully changes a child’s dressing, ensuring proper wound care and recovery. Photo: WHO27 February 2025, Aleppo Syrian Arab Republic – For Fawziya Ismail Al-Hasan, nursing is more than a profession; it is a commitment to serving those who need care the most. Displaced from rural Homs, she has lived with her husband and three children in Qara Kobri camp in Aleppo for over six years. For the past five years, she has worked at the Qara Kobri primary health care center, a facility managed by Al-Ameen, where she joined as a nurse in 2021.

“I provide nursing care for both displaced people and residents in the village and nearby communities,” she explains.

“Since there are no other health centres around, we offer vital services like dressing wounds, disinfecting and stitching injuries, administering IV and intramuscular injections and other essential nursing support.”

A health system under strain

Fawziya’s work is a lifeline for many in the camp and surrounding areas, where health care remains difficult to access. In 2025, 15.8 million people – more than 65% of the total population – will need humanitarian health assistance. Among them are 7.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), 22% of whom live in Aleppo. Many, like Fawziya’s neighbours, live in tents with little protection from extreme weather, limited access to clean water and poor sanitation.

With no nearby hospitals, the Qara Kobri primary health care centre is often the only option for people in need. Located in Al-Bab in northern Syria, the centre provides free health care services, from prevention and awareness to treatment. Thousands of patients visit each month for consultations, medications from its pharmacy, and referrals for critical cases in partnership with other health providers.

“We know how important this centre is for people living under tough conditions, far from larger hospitals,” Fawziya says. “Sometimes, we are the only hope for people who cannot afford to travel long distances for basic medical care.” 

Saving lives against the odds

With a rise in influenza cases during winter months, Nurse Fawziya provides oxygen support to a young patient struggling to breathe. Photo: WHOSyria’s health system is in crisis. Across the country, only 57% of hospitals and 37% of primary health care centres are fully functional, with widespread shortages of medicines and equipment. More than 100 health facilities in the northwest lack funding to ensure continuity of services. Those that remain operational struggle with insufficient medical supplies, trained personnel and resources.

Despite the challenges, Fawziya is determined. She recalls a young boy suffering from severe dehydration. Without the centre’s quick intervention his condition could have been fatal.

“We face tough situations but standing by our patients, offering not just medical care but emotional support, is what matters most,” she says.

Keeping health care running

WHO, supported by KSrelief, is providing vital assistance across Syria to keep critical health services operational. Over the past 4 months funding from KSrelief has helped sustain more than 50 health facilities in northwest Syria, including hospitals, primary health care centres, dialysis units and tuberculosis treatment centres. Since November 2024, over 154 000 people have benefitted from medical consultations, treatments and surgery.

As well as keeping facilities open, KSrelief support strengthens the referral system and provides essential medicines and medical equipment to ensure patients receive the care they need.

Care and resilience

Despite the hardships, Fawziya finds strength in the team she works with.

“My colleagues are like a second family. We work together with love and dedication, driven by the need to ease people’s suffering.”

She is grateful for the support that keeps the facility running. “Thanks to KSrelief funding our health facility can cover staff salaries, which is vital. Without this support many of us would have to work as volunteers because resources are so limited. KSrelief’s help ensures we can continue to serve our community consistently and with the care they deserve.”

Through partnerships like WHO and KSrelief, facilities such as Qara Kobri primary health care centre remain open, offering a vital lifeline to people in need, today and in the years to come.