20 April 2025

The campaign focuses on reaching missed and zero-dose children with lifesaving vaccines across all 14 governorates  21 April 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are supporting a nationwide immunization campaign led by the Ministry of Health to mark World Immunization Week in Syria, running from 21 to 30 April.  Under the global theme “A Dose of Good News,” the campaign highlights the life-saving power of vaccines and their role in protecting children from...

08 April 2025

8 April 2025, Syrian Arab Republic – In the busy corridors of Al Amal Pediatric and Maternity Hospital in Azaz, Aleppo, every available chair — and many floor corners — have become makeshift waiting areas and treatment spaces. Nurses administer IV drips on benches; consultations take place wherever a bit of free space can be found. Overcrowding is the new normal. The outpatient and maternity services are running at over 30% above their intended capacity.  But this surge isn’t only a crisis. It’s also a sign of hope. Following recent political developments in...

07 April 2025

Damascus, Syria – 7 April 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has welcomed a generous contribution of US$3.49 million from the Novo Nordisk Foundation to strengthen emergency health services for millions of people affected by the protracted crisis in Syria. The funding will bolster trauma care, reinforce disease surveillance and outbreak response, and improve access to essential healthcare in one of the world’s most complex humanitarian emergencies. “We are deeply grateful to the Novo Nordisk Foundation for their timely contribution,” said Christina Bethke, Acting WHO Representative in Syria. “This support...

24 March 2025

24 March 2025 — Every year, 24 March is observed as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to amplify the urgency of ending TB, the world’s deadliest infectious disease which continues to devastate millions globally, inflicting severe health, social and economic consequences. This year’s theme, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver”, offers an opportunity to reflect on ongoing efforts and encourage stronger commitment at local, national and international levels to end TB, including by combatting the growing threat of drug-resistant TB. WHO has been instrumental in supporting the Syrian Arab Republic’s Ministry...

17 March 2025

17 March 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – On the 14th 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...

16 March 2025

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...

10 March 2025

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...

27 February 2025

27 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...

26 February 2025

26 February 2025, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic – Wafaa Al-oush has no doubts about what her role as a midwife entails – it is a mission to ensure every mother and baby receive the care they need. Living in Al-Bab, in northern Aleppo, with her husband and young child, she has worked at Al-Ameen Medical Centre for the past 4 years, providing essential maternal health services. “Every day women come to us full of worries, not just about their pregnancy but about how they will afford food, shelter and medical care...

25 February 2025

25 February 2025, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Rebublic – As an internal medicine doctor at Al-Ameen Medical Centre in Al-Bab, northern Aleppo, Dr Aziza Al-Naasan knows that every day is a battle to heal. She treats a steady stream of patients, many suffering from chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Originally from Idlib, Dr Aziza now lives in Aleppo with her husband and 2 daughters. Like millions across Syria, she witnessed firsthand the devastating toll of conflict on families, communities and the health care system. “We help...

24 February 2025

24 February 2025, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic – In a busy hospital in Azaz, northern Aleppo, Borhan Jasem Kleeb takes a short break between training sessions to share a story that shaped his life. In 2012, while rushing to the scene of an airstrike in Homs, his ambulance was hit. He hurt his shoulder badly, an injury that still troubles him. “That day changed everything for me. It made me realize that I wanted to spend my life helping others in emergencies,” says Borhan. Originally from Homs, Borhan lost his entire family...

20 February 2025

20 February 2025, Syrian Arab Republic – Nermeen, a lively 9-year-old girl from Aleppo, was playing in her home one morning when she touched a faulty electrical socket and received a powerful shock that went through her right hand and out her left. The shock caused severe damage to her arm and put her life at risk. In panic, Nermeen’s parents rushed her to the emergency department of Al-Razi Hospital where the medical team began to treat her. The damage was serious and without immediate action her arm might have needed...

16 February 2025

16 February 2025 –Amid Syria’s enduring crisis, waterborne diseases have remained a major concern, especially for the most vulnerable communities. In response, WHO, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, conducted risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) workshops in Deir-ez-Zor and Lattakia governorates in late 2024, with a focus on raising awareness and providing lifesaving support. The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allows the United Nations and its agencies to act quickly when humanitarian needs arise, enabling humanitarian responders to deliver lifesaving assistance whenever and wherever crises strike. Thanks to funding from...

02 February 2025

2 February 2025 – Ebrahim, a lively 5-year-old boy from the Salah Aldeen neighbourhood in Aleppo governorate, Syria, had always been full of energy and smiles. But when a painful bump appeared on his nose due to a leishmaniasis infection, everything changed. His red, swollen nose began to draw unwanted attention and teasing from other children. Embarrassed and ashamed, Ebrahim avoided playing with his friends and often missed nursery school. Ebrahim’s father, Mohammad, a photographer, initially didn’t realize the severity of the issue. “I work late nights and sleep during the...

30 January 2025

Sunday, 26 January 2025 – At Kafr Arouk Health Centre in northern Aleppo, a 6-year-old boy arrived severely malnourished and struggling to breathe – his condition worsened by months of delayed care. Paediatrician Dr Bayan Mohammed Hamidi remembers the case vividly. Dr Hamidi is one of 150 health care professionals trained by WHO, with support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to strengthen tuberculosis detection, treatment and community awareness across Aleppo and Idlib in northwest Syria. Held just days before the 8 December 2024 political shift, the...

19 January 2025

19 January 2025 – In the vast and unforgiving terrain of north-east Syria, Al-Hol camp shelters nearly 40 000 displaced people – most of them women and children. Life in the camp is marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and poor sanitation. Disease outbreaks are a persistent threat and in late 2024, cholera emerged as the latest crisis. Over 200 suspected cases were reported by December. Contaminated water and insufficient sanitation infrastructure were fuelling the outbreak, placing an already vulnerable population at further risk. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration...

26 December 2024

27 December 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye – Fifty tonnes of lifesaving medical supplies have arrived in Türkiye via the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Air Bridge, ready for delivery to health facilities in Syria. The shipment, coordinated by WHO, will provide much-needed support to Primary health care centers and hospitals in areas where the healthcare needs are the most pressing. “This delivery will provide millions of Syrians facing extraordinary hardship, with much needed life-saving medical supplies” said WHO Emergency Lead for the Gaziantep field office Rosa Crestani. “These supplies could not have come at...

24 December 2024

24 December 2024, Damascus, Syria/Gaziantep, Türkiye – As Syria stands at a crossroads following the recent transfer of authority, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a US$ 56.4 million flash appeal to address the urgent health needs of Syrians affected by years of conflict. The WHO appeal seeks to address the humanitarian crisis while laying the groundwork for recovery. Over the next six months, WHO together with its partners will continue to focus on trauma care, continuity of essential services, disease outbreak prevention, patient referrals and strengthening health system coordination. Since...

20 December 2024

Good morning, 20 December 2024 - I’m speaking to you from Damascus at a moment of profound significance in Syria’s history. The resilience of the Syrian people is on full display, as is their hope for the future. Over the past 12 days or so, I’ve witnessed both the joy of reunions and returns, as well as the concerns about the uncertainty of what lies ahead. In the midst of these challenges, WHO remains steadfast—not just in delivering life-saving aid and ensuring healthcare reaches those who need it most, but also in...

28 November 2024

28 November 2024 – For surgeons in the operating rooms of northwest Syria, where the hum of generators replaces the sterile quiet of modern hospitals, every decision is a race against time, every procedure a battle to save lives amidst conflict. For doctors like Dr Abdullah Al-Saleh, a general surgeon at Al-Andalus Hospital in Idlib, the stakes could not be higher. “The hardest cases are the ones where every second counts,” he says. “We deal with severe abdominal and chest injuries, where even a small delay can mean losing a life....

24 November 2024

25 November 2024 – When Abbas* arrived in Lebanon in 2014 he was in his mid-20s, seeking safety and work away from the conflict in Syria. “I went alone, hoping to find a better life,” he says. For nearly a decade Abbas managed to build a life, finding occasional work, marrying and having 4 children. By September 2024, however, the escalating violence in Lebanon left his family with no choice but to return to northwest Syria. “We were renting a small apartment, and the financial situation was becoming unbearable,” Abbas says. “I was...

21 November 2024

21 November 2024, Gaziantep, Türkiye – The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has pledged US$ 4.75 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support lifesaving health services in northwest Syria. This funding comes at a time when nearly 80% of the region’s population—4 million of the 5.1 million people living in northwest Syria—require health assistance amidst the ongoing challenges of prolonged conflict, funding crisis, and risk of disease outbreaks. This funding will directly support over 50 health facilities across northwest Syria, including primary health care centres, hospitals,...

19 November 2024

19 November 2024 - In the wards of Dr Muhammad Waasim Maaz Hospital, also known as Bab al Salama Surgical Hospital in Azaz, northwestern Syria, healthcare workers face a complex challenge every day: treating patients suffering from infections complicated by antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite limited resources, they continue to provide care to their community, encountering stories that reflect both the vulnerabilities and resilience of those they treat.  Zeina’s journey to recovery Six-year-old Zeina Saleh arrived at Bab al Salama Surgical Hospital with a persistent high fever, vomiting and other alarming symptoms. “Even...

17 November 2024

17 November 2024, –World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is held annually between 18 to 24 November. As this year’s WAAW approaches, Syrian health professionals are highlighting the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Dr Mohammad Wahid Rajab Bek, Head of the Syrian Association of Infectious Diseases and of the Infectious Diseases Department at Al-Mouwasat University Hospital in Damascus, underlined the urgent need for collective action to face the growing menace of AMR. "Antibiotics are lifesaving when used properly, but misuse has become widespread," he warned. "People often turn to antibiotics for common colds and...

13 November 2024

13 November 2024 – In collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners, WHO has mobilized healthcare services to address the urgent needs of over 510,000 displaced individuals who have crossed from Lebanon into Syria since September 24, 2024. With needs increasing daily and basic services under strain, WHO’s coordinated health interventions support both displaced individuals and host communities, at border crossings, community centers, and shelters, particularly in underserved rural areas. WHO leads and coordinates the health response to ensure access to essential health services and to mitigate risk of...

31 October 2024

31 October 2024, – On 23 October 2024 the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Syria’s Ministry of Health, announced a comprehensive training of trainers (ToT) programme to enhance hospital management and care across Syria. The programme, which runs until mid-November at the Centre for Strategic Studies and Health Training in Damascus, will train 70 health professionals as national trainers. Supported by Austria, the training will equip participants with leadership and management skills tailored to Syria’s healthcare needs. The initiative includes 7 modules covering: governance, leadership, and strategic thinking; human...

24 October 2024

24 October 2024 – On 3 October 2024, experts from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the WHO Country Office concluded a mission in Syria to review, in collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH), the performance of the HIV, tuberculosis (TB), leishmaniasis and vector-borne disease control programs. The mission involved field visits to health facilities and directorates of health in Aleppo, Hama, Rural Damascus, and Damascus governorates to assess and evaluate the implementation and identify opportunities to expand access to quality health services and improve...

10 October 2024

10 October 2024 – More than thirteen years of crises have taken a heavy toll on the health and well-being of Syria’s population, particularly its healthcare workers. On this World Mental Health Day, themed “Mental Health at Work,” WHO is highlighting the immense challenges faced by healthcare providers and patients across the country. Their stories reflect resilience in the face of hardship, set against a backdrop of dwindling resources and a health system stretched to its limits. In Aleppo, Dr. Hiba Aubrey, an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor and head...

10 October 2024

9 October, Aleppo, Syria – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with funding from the People of Japan, has delivered essential medical equipment to the newly reconstructed Paediatric Hospital in Aleppo, Syria. The initiative marks a critical step in restoring secondary and tertiary health care services for children in Aleppo and surrounding regions. Following extensive rehabilitation by UNDP, the hospital, which was damaged during the Syrian conflict in 2012, is now fully equipped to provide comprehensive care to vulnerable children. Advanced diagnostic...

07 October 2024

6 October 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the US$ 5.5 million funding received from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to enhance its integrated multisectoral emergency response in Syria. The funding will enable WHO to continue delivering life-saving healthcare services to the most vulnerable populations in conflict-affected regions of the country. The support aims to reduce morbidity and mortality by ensuring access to essential health care, including advanced nutrition services, and by delivering health services to people in need in north-west Syria and north-east Syria, including...

12 September 2024

17 September 2024, Damascus, Syria – Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety, the theme of this year’s World Patient Safety Day – observed annually on 17 September – calls global attention to the critical need for timely and accurate medical care. It is a message that resonates deeply in conflict-affected Syria. The experience of Jehan, a 38-year-old woman from Al-Dhiyabiya in Rural Damascus, provides a reminder of the devastating consequences of delayed care. Jehan’s life changed in 2012 when conflict reached her neighbourhood. Returning home to retrieve essential items for her children,...

01 September 2024

1 September 2024, Damascus, Syria –Thaer Al-Ali is a nurse at the BASMA Association in Syria’s Rural Damascus governorate. He is part of a team caring for children with cancer. “Every day starts early. By the time I arrive at work the weight of the day’s responsibilities are already pressing on me. The first task is a debriefing meeting with colleagues during which we discuss the patients’ conditions and treatment plans. We care for children with life-threatening illnesses and the meeting is crucial to prepare for the day ahead. “I witness heart-wrenching...

27 August 2024

27 August 2024, Damascus, Syria – On 28 May 2024, delegates of the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly took part in a special high-level event to celebrate 50 years of immunization progress – honouring achievements, embracing innovation and envisioning the future. The event was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). As WHO marks this milestone, it is important to acknowledge the health worker heroes who have worked tirelessly to protect public health. One such hero is Abu Sary, from Salamiyah, Hama, Syria. His lifelong dedication to...

19 August 2024

19 August 2024, Damascus, Syria – Emad Shehab, killed after a building collapsed following an airstrike in his hometown Deir-ez-Zor, was a public health emergency specialist and engineer whose expertise and dedication served as an inspiration to everyone who worked with him. "Emad was a dedicated professional whose commitment greatly impacted our response in Syria. We deeply feel his loss, and his legacy continues to inspire our work. We are committed to carrying on the vital work he championed and honouring his memory,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative a.i in...

04 August 2024

4 August 2024 – In north-west Syria, lack of sanitation services, compounded by limited water supply and overcrowding, creates the ideal conditions for infectious diseases to spread. Scabies is among the infections of concern in north-west Syria, especially in densely populated camps as it is transmitted person to person through close skin contact. WHO collaborated with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Health and WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) Cluster partners to launch a permethrin-based mass drug administration on 16 July 2024. This large-scale response to scabies has been made...

29 July 2024

29 July 2024 – Syria’s 2023 earthquake put to the test the trainings on gender-based violence and mental health support that WHO has funded and organized in the country since 2018. The earthquake also prompted WHO to initiate its work on prevention and response to sexual misconduct (PRS). Under WHO’s definition, sexual misconduct includes sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Syria on 6 February 2023 brought death, destruction and displacement in its wake. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes and were forced to move to...

23 July 2024

23 July 2024, Damascus – The Syrian Ministry of Health (MOH), supported by WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has launched the second round of Big Catch-Up vaccination activity this week. The Big Catch-Up is an initiative launched by global health partners in April 2023 to address the decline in childhood vaccination rates observed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of overburdened health systems and disrupted access to medical care. This is the second phase in Syria, following an initial phase in April this year. During this round, about 2 million children...

23 July 2024

23 July 2024 – In Syria, childhood cancer is ranked third among the leading causes of death in the country. Damascus and its suburbs are the main areas where cancer treatment is offered, putting huge pressure on hospitals here to admit children from across Syria. Despite the ever-shrinking availability of cancer services across the country, a network of dedicated organizations and health workers continue to strive to provide life-saving care. Maya, a young cancer survivor, shares her story, which reflects her patience, strength and an unbreakable spirit of hope. Maya’s story, in...

21 July 2024

22 July 2024 –More than 13 years of ongoing crisis in Syria have forced thousands of families to flee their homes. Many have lost their properties and their livelihoods, making it difficult to afford basic life necessities, including food, safe water, and health care. In 2023, 4.8% of children aged under 5 years in Syria suffered from malnutrition – nearly triple the rate reported just 4 years previously, in 2019. Three-year-old Saif, from Al-Hasakeh governorate, arrived at the WHO-supported nutrition stabilization centre at Al-Hikmah Hospital weighing just 3.9 kg. As well...

21 July 2024

18 July 2024 – Syria’s crisis of more than 13 years has particularly affected the most vulnerable – including women, children and elderly people. Just one of the many stories of adversity belongs to Batoul, a 5-year-old girl from Idlib governorate. Her family had to leave their home in Idlib because of the ongoing conflict. They now live in the Al-Malaab area, in southern Hama. Life was already tough, and illness made it even harder. Six months before Batoul was born, her 65-year-old father, Ahmed, began to show symptoms of Parkinson’s...

16 July 2024

16 July 2024, Syria – WHO proudly announces the official handover of key units in Al- Qamishli National Hospital, north-east Syria, to the Ministry of Health. This follows their rehabilitation as part of the Project for Strengthening Health Care Services. This initiative, supported by the people of Japan, aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of health facilities in Syria. During the one-year rehabilitation project, the main focus was to rehabilitate the burns care, intensive care, emergency, dialysis, and medical imaging units of Al-Qamishli National Hospital. Outdated medical equipment was also...

09 June 2024

9 June 2024, Cairo/Damascus -- The World Health Organization (WHO) is deeply concerned about the health situation in Al Hol Camp in Al-Hasakeh, Northeast Syria. Today marks one month since WHO’s field staff were denied access to the camp by the Camp Administration. This reportedly follows WHO’s decision to suspend hospital referrals for displaced people in the camp due to funding shortages. Despite using all available channels of communication Camp Administration and relevant authorities, including persistent advocacy efforts through the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), donors...

09 June 2024

9 June 2024, Damascus, Syria – Forty-year-old Om Yousef is originally from Daraa governorate in southern Syria. She and her husband and 2 children fled to the governorate of Rural Damascus from her hometown in 2013, because of the escalating conflict. “We lost everything – our home; my husband’s barber shop, the only source of income for our family. I felt even my dreams had faded. It was a mix of feelings that can’t be expressed,” says Om Yousef. “To escape, we started smoking. We did not know that it was...

21 May 2024

21 May 2024 – On the side of the Brussels VIII conference and amidst the backdrop of ongoing crises, join us for a pivotal event addressing the pressing health needs in the Syrian Arab Republic. Despite relentless efforts, Syria’s health system remains strained, grappling with the aftermath of prolonged conflict, compounded by outbreaks of measles, cholera, and the devastating impact of the February 2023 earthquake. With over 14.9 million people requiring urgent humanitarian health assistance in 2024, the situation demands immediate attention. However, amidst these escalating needs, funding for humanitarian health services...

01 May 2024

1 May 2024 – In north-west Syria, 2 million people (41% of the population) are living in about 1500 camps or self-settled sites. Housed in temporary shelters such as tents; they face an increased risk of burn injuries. Burn injuries in north-west Syria are directly linked to poor and overcrowded living conditions, as well as the use of unsafe cooking and heating fuel. The risk of burns is even more significant in tents, which are highly flammable. A single domestic fire incident often causes multiple casualties, with the whole family suffering burns,...

30 April 2024

30 April 2024, Damascus, Syria – In collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health, WHO conducted a central meeting from 29 to 30 April to prepare the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory conditions, cancer and mental health disorders, are responsible for an estimated 50–70% of all deaths in Syria. The Action Plan is in line with WHO’s regional and global frameworks and aims to promote healthy lifestyles and address the rising prevalence of chronic diseases by targeting...

29 April 2024

29 April 2024 – “I felt the ground shaking heavily, I ran to wake up my parents and my grandfather, then I went to wear clothes to run outside,” recounts Yusra*, a 23-year-old university student from Idlib governorate, north-west Syria. “That is all I can remember. My life had changed forever.” Yusra’s house collapsed on her as she was rushing to take cover during the series of deadly earthquakes that struck Syria and Türkiye in February 2023. Yusra was trapped beneath the rubble for many hours. In Syria alone, the disaster caused...

23 April 2024

23 April 2024, Damascus, Syria – Syria’s first round of its Big Catch-Up vaccination activity began this week. The 10-day initiative was launched by the Syrian Ministry of Health in partnership with WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Two further rounds of vaccination activity under the campaign are scheduled for July and October 2024. WHO is providing technical support to the Ministry of Health and covering the operational costs of the Big Catch-Up campaign. This has been made possible by generous contributions from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the...

14 March 2024

14 March 2024, Damascus, Syria – As the Syrian conflict enters its 14th year, WHO reaffirms its unwavering support to the people of Syria. The prolonged crisis has inflicted immense suffering on the civilian population. A record 16.7 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance, including 7.2 million who have been internally displaced. Health needs are overwhelming. But the disrupted health system is struggling to provide life-sustaining and life-saving health services in a context marked by conflict, economic instability, disease outbreaks and natural disasters. Currently, 65% of Syria’s hospitals and 62% of its primary...

15 February 2024

14 February 2024­, Damascus, Syria – WHO has concluded the Gender-based Violence and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Victim’s Support in Earthquake-Affected Areas project, which it delivered with the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Syrian Commission for Family Affairs and Population. The project was launched in February 2023, following the devastating earthquake, to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) in the affected governorates of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. Throughout the project period, WHO collaborated with the Ministry to ensure the safety, rights, dignity...

06 February 2024

6 February 2024, Damascus, Syria – It is one year today since a devastating series of earthquakes struck Syria and Türkiye, causing more than 1400 deaths and injuring about 2357 people in Syria alone. Hundreds of thousands more were displaced. Today, WHO reflects on its work to help the people of Syria recover from the disaster and to support the reconstruction of affected areas. Over the past year, WHO has supported nearly 69 000 outpatient consultations and over 9000 trauma consultations in Syria. More than 550 000 people in hard-to-reach areas...

06 February 2024

6 February 2024 – I retain vivid memories of the earthquake. At just after 04:00, I was jolted awake by deep rumbling and roaring, and strong shaking. I live with my elderly mother, who is unwell, and my 2 sons; my first thought was to get them to safety. We got out of our building just in time before the quake totally flattened our home. Once we were outside, my son asked me if I would be going to the hospital. I told him that of course I would go there...

25 January 2024

25 January 2024 – Abd Nour, a 52-year-old father from Aleppo, has been displaced 3 times with his family owing to the ongoing conflict in Syria. Once a shopkeeper, Abd became a day labourer to support his family after they were forced to flee their home. “For us, it has been very difficult,” he said. “It was hard to make plans not knowing how I would be able to support my family. As a father, I worried a lot.” In summer 2023, Abd contracted leishmaniasis, which turned his world upside down. Leishmaniasis...

03 January 2024

3 January 2024 – “After years of suffering, I am finally feeling empowered to regain control over my own destiny,” shared Hana, aged 29 years, who has suffered a series of devastating losses. A decade ago, Hana was forced to flee her home when fighting intensified close to her village in northwest Syria. She left her relatives without saying goodbye, uncertain if she would ever see them again. Having taken shelter at Sundian camp in Idlib governorate, Hana, her husband and 3 children struggled to make ends meet. The hardships endured in the...

05 December 2023

5 December 2023, Cairo, Egypt, and Gaziantep, Türkiye – To strengthen the response to disease outbreaks and public health emergencies in northwest Syria, WHO conducted a training on risk assessment and outbreak investigations in Gaziantep, Türkiye. The training was for 24 health professionals from northwest Syria who are engaged in the implementation of early warning, alert and response network. Led by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the WHO Field Presence Office in Gaziantep, the training ran from 27 to 29 November 2023. Participants are now equipped with the...

19 November 2023

19 November 2023, Damascus, Syria¬ – WHO and the Syrian Ministry of Health recently completed a joint evaluation of the country’s main disease surveillance system, the Early Warning, Alert and Response System (EWARS). Throughout the crisis in Syria, EWARS has been instrumental in detecting outbreaks of measles, cholera and other diseases and preventing their further spread. Health facilities across Syria submit weekly surveillance data to the Ministry of Health in Damascus for consolidation, analysis and response. The evaluation team, comprising experts from the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, WHO...

26 October 2023

25 October 2023 – Thirteen-year-old Ahmad was asleep at home in Azmarin, a small village in north-west Syria, when the house began to shake violently in the middle of the night. The deadly earthquakes of 6 February 2023 had begun. Moments later, the house had collapsed, burying Ahmad, his parents, sister and younger brother under the rubble. By the time rescuers reached the family, only Ahmad and his brother Omar were still alive. The boys were rushed to Al Rahma Hospital in Darkoush, where they were treated for their injuries. Once...

11 October 2023

10 October 2023, Damascus, Syria – To mark World Mental Health Day, WHO and the Syrian Ministry of Health launched a 2-day workshop for media professionals to emphasize this year’s theme, “Mental health is a universal human right.” The activity aims to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health.  “It’s essential to underscore that mental health is not a luxury; it is a basic human right,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, Acting WHO Representative in Syria. “Regardless of who we are or where we come...

04 October 2023

4 October 2023, Damascus, Syria - The World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted a regional Green Light Committee (rGLC) mission to Syria, focusing on strengthening Syria's National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP). The mission involved updating the national multi-drug-resistant guidelines and conducting training sessions on new WHO-recommended treatments for both drug-susceptible Tuberculosis (DS-TB) and drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB). The Syrian conflict has heavily disrupted the health system, leaving thousands of people unable to access TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. Moreover, millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) live in poor conditions, overcrowded and in...

03 October 2023

Amid the many hardships endured by Syrians, stories of hope, strength and courage emerge. Aya, a 20-year-old from rural Homs Governorate, was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 17. Since then, she has had to undergo life-saving dialysis three times a week. "Learning that I would need dialysis was shocking news. I’ve had to accept that the dialysis machine is now my lifeline," said Aya. "Although my medical condition is part of my life, it's not the whole story. My dreams remain intact, and I am determined to do...

19 September 2023

19 September 2023, Damascus, Syria – Last week, the Ministry of Health and WHO concluded a two-day workshop on the draft national mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategy for Syria. The workshop discussed the vision, goals and actions of the MHPSS strategy under development, which will guide the phased scale-up of MHPSS services across sectors from 2023 to 2027. Dr Iman Shankiti, Acting WHO Representative in Syria, remarked, “This workshop is a milestone in prioritizing mental health in Syria’s recovery. It reflects our joint commitment with the Ministry of Health, other...

06 September 2023

Cairo, 6 September 2023 – Affected by conflict for more than 12 years, Syria is experiencing a protracted complex political and socioeconomic crisis. The country has been grappling with various recurrent epidemics and outbreaks amid the severely deteriorated living conditions.  On 10 September 2022, the Syrian Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak. Left untreated, this virulent disease – which can cause severe acute watery diarrhoea – can kill within hours. Between 25 August 2022 to 8 August 2023, 173 345 suspected cases, including 109 deaths, had been reported across all...

03 September 2023

3 September 2023– Damascus, Syria – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) to establish the country’s first Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC). The PHEOC will be located in Damascus and is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for ever closer vigilance and cooperation among countries. The PHEOC will support Syria’s commitments under the International Health Regulations (2005), which require countries to develop, enhance and maintain their capacity to respond promptly...

08 August 2023

8 August 2023 – In order for every Syrian to have accessible, equitable, effective, and high-quality health care and nutrition services, the Ministry of Health has led the development of Syria’s strategy for primary health care 2023–2027 through a participatory process, soliciting input from all units and departments, as well as other line ministries, nongovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies and health partners. Stakeholders worked to collectively identify technical and operational health needs and gaps, together with the priorities and interventions required to address them. The PHC strategy provides a roadmap for...

25 June 2023

25 June 2023 – As part of its ongoing commitment to strengthen health systems in regions affected by crises, the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with its donors, has delivered three oxygen generators to three public hospitals: Dara’a National Hospital, Homs National Hospital, and Dummar National Hospital in Damascus. Known as Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants, these oxygen generators will support the lives of hundreds of critical patients in Syria – such as those with cardiac and respiratory conditions, or those requiring intensive care – by ensuring reliable and...

01 June 2023

31 May 2023 – Damascus, Syria – Countries around the world, including Syria, are observing World No Tobacco Day, with a focus on the call for food, not tobacco. Syria's tobacco control program, led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization, aims to reduce the effects of tobacco cultivation on government and public health. "Interference from the tobacco industry makes it harder to transition away from tobacco cultivation, exacerbating the global food crisis," said Dr. Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative a.i in Syria. "We urge governments to...

09 May 2023

8 May, 2023 – On World Thalassemia Day 2023, WHO stands in solidarity with the thousands of thalassemia patients in Syria and their families. “Despite a weakened healthcare system in Syria as a result of years of conflict, there are still glimmers of hope everyday thanks to the support of donors and the tireless dedication of healthcare workers who make it possible for thalassemia patients in Syria to access to life-saving care,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative a.i. in Syria. From remote villages to urban centers, healthcare workers and health partners have made...

08 May 2023

7 May, 2023 –Damascus, Syria - the World Health Organization (WHO) together with UNICEF, Gavi, and the Syrian Ministry of Health, is proud to participate in World Immunization Week in Syria, from 7 to 11 May, to promote the life-saving benefits of vaccines and encourage more people to get vaccinated. This year’s theme for World Immunization Week is “The Big Catch Up”, highlighting the role of vaccines in bringing people closer to their loved ones, communities, and goals. Through our participation in World Immunization Week in Syria, we aim to raise...

01 May 2023

30 April 2023 – WHO has been working tirelessly to provide emergency health support to those affected by the recent earthquakes in Syria. As of 16 April, the organization has provided medical care and supplies to 41 000 individuals in affected areas. The recent earthquake has caused significant damage to health infrastructure in Syria, exacerbating an already challenging health crisis in the country. WHO has been working to provide critical medical care and supplies to those in need, including vaccinations, treatment for injuries and illnesses, and mental health support. Since the occurrence...

27 April 2023

26 April 2023, Damascus – In the early part of this year, southern Türkiye and northern Syria were struck by a series of devastating earthquakes that caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure. In Syria alone, the earthquakes affected a staggering 4 million people. Out of this number, around 2 million were severely impacted, and more than 200,000 individuals were forced to leave their homes across Aleppo, Hama, Latakia and Tartous governorates. According to the latest earthquake situation report by the World Health Organization , there is a continued and...

09 April 2023

Damascus, Syria – On 7 April 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its establishment, coinciding with the annual observance of World Health Day. This day highlights WHO’s unwavering commitment to improving global health and recognizes the invaluable contributions of health care workers who tirelessly provide essential health services to communities worldwide, even under challenging circumstances. WHO Representative in Syria a.i. Dr Iman Shankiti and H.E. Minister of Health Dr Hassan al-Ghabbash visited a polyclinic in Damascus to mark the day and express their appreciation for the...

04 April 2023

4 April 2023  ̶  Thanks to humanitarian funding of the European Union, 15-year-old Mohammad is once again a successful student with a dream to make a difference in the world by becoming a doctor who provides healthcare to those who need it most. Most parents find their teenage boys to be a handful. In Salamiyah, however, an ancient Syrian town in Hama governorate, one set of parents would beg to differ: their son Mohammed was a curious, active, 15-year-old, with a passion for learning, driving his engagement as a high school student....

27 March 2023

  The JEE is a voluntary and collaborative process aimed at assessing a country's core capacities to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats under the IHR 2005. This process helps countries identify critical gaps in their human and animal health systems, allowing them to prioritize opportunities to enhance preparedness and response to public health emergencies.  "The 2019 JEE session provided a crucial foundation for this workshop, which represents a significant step forward in developing a comprehensive roadmap for enhancing Syria’s health response to the ongoing crisis. Through the collaborative efforts...

21 March 2023

21 March 2023, Damascus, Syria - The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered with the Ministry of Health in Syria to hold a workshop, which, starting yesterday, aims to assess the national medical supply chain. This critical initiative will review essential processes, analyse distribution mechanisms and provide strategic solutions to establish a national logistics management system. Read more

16 March 2023

16 March 2023 – Every day, 10-year-old Fatima leaves the tent she now calls home to meet with the doctors at Harim General Hospital. She is undergoing therapy to recover from the injuries she was left with after surviving nearly 24 hours under the rubble of her collapsed home.  Like most families, Fatima slept soundly in the dawn hours of 6 February 2023. When a deafening sound forced her eyes open, it was to see the walls of her room crashing down before she had a chance to run. It is...

15 March 2023

15 March 2023 – Even before the earthquake, the humanitarian crisis in Syria had been steadily worsening since 2011. Ravaged by over a decade of ongoing conflict that has led to major socioeconomic decline, huge population displacement, the erosion of a once-solid health system, COVID-19, and the spread of transmissible diseases, such as cholera and measles, Syria was in no way prepared to face a natural disaster of such proportions as the 6 February 2023 earthquake. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been providing health care support on the ground through...

02 February 2023

With a nearly US$ 1 million donation from the Government of Japan, WHO has been able to restore Nawa Hospital in south Syria’s populous Dara’a Governorate. The generous donation came as part of the Government of Japan’s continuous efforts to support the rebuilding of the health care sector in Syria and enhance access to health services for all conflict-affected populations. Although Dara’a is home to over 1 million Syrians, only one out of the governorate’s seven hospitals functions at full capacity. As a result, access to health care has been severely...

25 January 2023

The team conducted various meetings with national counterparts, United Nations agencies and other stakeholders to assess the current situation, identify the needs and resources, maintain polio-essential functions, and strengthen routine immunization to maintain Syria’s polio-free status. As part of the mission, the team agreed on the way forward to design a roadmap to support and sustain the ongoing integration of polio assets to ensure long-term benefits for immunization and emergency response. While Syria is a polio-free country, it is at very high risk of imported polio outbreaks. In the last decade,...

16 January 2023

16 January 2022 – The Government of the Czech Republic has contributed a generous donation of US$ 150 000 to boost WHO’s efforts in combating the cholera outbreak in Syria.  Eleven years into the conflict, damage to the water and sanitation infrastructure in Syria have left much of the population dependent upon unsafe water for their daily use, placing them at greater risk of cholera infection and waterborne and foodborne diseases. Health care facilities also face unsafe water supplies and poor sanitation infrastructure, placing patients and health care workers at risk. “Safe water,...

29 November 2022

Damascus, 29 November 2022  – Trucks carrying two million doses of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) arrived in Damascus, Syria, today. Since the outbreak was declared on 10 September, tens of thousands of suspected acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases have been reported in all governorates. “Both adults and children are at risk of contracting the disease, but children often bear the brunt of severe illness and death. Procuring and delivering the vaccines timely is a top priority for UNICEF as cases continue to be reported in Syria,” said UNICEF Syria Representative a.i., Ghada Kachachi. The vaccines...

26 October 2022

26 October 2022, Damascus – Lending a humanitarian hand to protect the lives of the people of Syria, the Government of Italy has generously donated € 500 000 to support WHO’s response to the cholera outbreak in the country. This new fund aims at strengthening the capacity of 5 laboratories in affected governorates, thus enabling them to activate bacteriological testing and rapidly detect and identify epidemic diseases and outbreaks in hard-to-reach and high-risk areas.  “The Italian contribution will enable WHO to support health authorities to meet the increasing health needs of the affected populations who have been...

12 October 2022

12 October 2022, Damascus – With support from WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Ministry of Health in Syria has launched a polio, measles and rubella vaccination campaign across the country. The 10-day campaign, which began on 9 October 2022, aims to vaccinate 2.4 million children under the age of 5 in all Syrian governates, regardless of their vaccination status, with a special focus on camps and informal settlements.   “Keeping Syria polio-free has been a major priority over past years for WHO and partners, and we are exerting all...

06 October 2022

northeast Syria –– Saber, a 9-year-old boy from Deir-ez-Zor governorate is the only son of a vulnerable family that was forced to leave its village in search of security and shelter. The family was displaced multiple times until it ended up in the Areesha camp in northeast Syria. “We used to live in a tattered tent under harsh weather conditions. We walked through the desert in the heat with no food for days on end. We experienced a lot of pain, hunger, fear, and displacement until we finally settled in the Areesha...

04 October 2022

  “Syria’s health system has been repeatedly strained through multiple concurrent emergencies and challenges that continue to affect the availability and quality of health services across the country. More than half of the health facilities in Syria remain partially functional or destroyed,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative in Syria. “This support from Norway is a critical contribution to WHO's work and plays a key role in strengthening our response to the current outbreak while addressing wider health needs,” Dr Shankiti added.  Using flexible funds from Norway that allow WHO to meet the urgent needs...

28 August 2022

Summary As of 22 August 2022, the total number of COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Syria through the COVAX Facility is 11 357 640 doses in addition to the 2 953 640 doses received through bilateral agreements. The available vaccines should enable Syria to reach more than 45% of its population. Trends in COVID-19 vaccination coverage at the Whole of Syria level Within its relentless efforts to raise COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Syria, the Ministry of Health recently conducted 2 intensified national COVID-19 vaccination campaigns targeting all people above 18 years of age in...

16 August 2022

16 August 2022 – WHO, together with the Relief Experts Association UDER as implementing agency, has bolstered the provision of primary health care services in northwest Syria by rendering the facilities in the towns of Sarmada, Tarmanin, Daret Azza and Zarzour fully operational.  Due to the size and scope of the project – which took place between August 2021 and May 2022 – UDER had struck agreements with several other organizations on the ground. Thanks to immense efforts requiring daily coordination, the Mentor Initiative offered leishmaniasis treatment services; Physicians Across Continents delivered...

04 August 2022

4 August 2022 - In response to the ongoing measles outbreak in north-west Syria (NWS), the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and its Gaziantep Field Office in Türkiye organized a measles surveillance and outbreak response workshop joined by 35 participants from WHO’s surveillance and immunization operational partners -- the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) and the Syrian Immunization Group (SIG). The three-day training was conducted by WHO’s Regional Office and WHO Gaziantep’s surveillance team, supported by the immunization team. Nine participants joined from NWS so that they could then relay...

03 August 2022

Damascus, 2 August 2022 – Italy has contributed 2 million euros to the World Health Organization to support efforts to vaccinate 40% of the targeted population in Syria by the end of 2022. A number of interventions have so far been implemented at the national level to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination in Syria, including national vaccination campaigns in May and June 2022. During these two campaigns, the Ministry of Health mobilized over 6000 trained health workers to conduct COVID-19 vaccination activities at both fixed health facilities and through mobile medical teams across...

11 July 2022

Damascus, 7 July 2022 – WHO, the Global Fund and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have been working closely to address HIV and tuberculosis (TB) epidemics under the Middle East Response (MER) project. Through the MER 1 grant, WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health in Syria’s national TB programme with 3 mobile clinics in Aleppo, Rural Damascus and Deir-ez-Zor governorates, as Syria’s protracted crisis has severely affected the health system across the country.  Each of the WHO-supported mobile clinics – with accompanying doctor, nurse, laboratory technician and driver –...

09 June 2022

9 June, Damascus - Hamed, a 12-year-old boy from Idleb, Saraqeb, was diagnosed with cancer 3 months ago after getting injured while playing football.  “It all came out of sudden. I was unintentionally hit by one of my friends while playing at the backyard of my home. I was in so much pain and could not move my leg. My parents took me to the hospital and after one month of tests and X-rays, doctors diagnosed the bone cancer,” shared Hamed. For his young age, Hamed demonstrated maturity, strength and optimism...

08 June 2022

Damascus, 8 June 2022 – In a bid to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rates, Syria completed a 2-week intensified national campaign targeting over 2.5 million people across the country. Through more than 1000 fixed centres and 400 mobile teams, the campaign reached nearly every remote area in Syria to bring the vaccines closer to people. In the coastal area, in Lattakia and Tartous governorates, WHO, together with 15 national and international community organizations scaled up their efforts by engaging community leaders, influencers, religious leaders, as well as 120 communication volunteers who...

18 May 2022

18 May 2022 – Seven hundred thousand more children face hunger in Syria due to the country’s continuously deteriorating economy, especially in northeast Syria. In the last 6 months, the total number of food-insecure children across the country has risen to more than 4.6 million. After more than 10 years of conflict and displacement, an unprecedented number of children in Syria are now battling soaring rates of malnutrition. The World Health Organization and the Nutrition Sector continue to expand detection, as well as preventive and specialized inpatient nutrition services for children with...

15 May 2022

Summary As of 9 May 2022, the total number of COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Syria through the COVAX Facility is 11 347 640 doses, in addition to 2 763 640 doses received through bilateral agreements. The available doses will enable Syria to reach about 45.4% of the population. Between 23 March and 4 April 2022, 1 043 700 doses of AstraZeneca Covishield reached Syria via COVAX. So far, vaccines received from bilateral agreements represent 20% of the total vaccines received, and the remaining 80% were delivered through COVAX. The vaccines are administered as...

05 May 2022

Join the important side event on health and the impact of the socio-economic crisis in Syria to be convened by WHO, in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme. The event will take place on 6 May, at 10 am Brussels time on the margins of the Brussels VI Conference on Syria.   Watch the event livestreamed on:  Twitter (English):     www.twitter.com/WHOEMRO    Facebook (Arabic):  www.facebook.com/WHOEMRO YouTube (French):   www.youtube.com/whoemr Join this important panel discussion with Q&A that will focus on new multilateral partnerships and actions needed now to revitalize Syria’s severely disrupted health care system. Related link Syria annual report 2021

31 March 2022

The Ministry of Health of Syria has recently launched its national strategy on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, with support from WHO, the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF. The strategy will contribute to reducing neonatal, child and maternal mortality and enhancing the well-being of women, children and adolescents through comprehensive access to health services.  “Too many women and children are still dying because they lack access to quality health care, resources, and information,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syria.  WHO has been involved...

27 March 2022

27 March 2022 - 25-year-old Muhdia from Karm Myasser district in Aleppo, Syria, was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) after being examined by the TB mobile clinic. Muhdia was losing weight, coughed frequently, had fever and difficulties in breathing. Thanks to the agility of physicians, she was immediately referred to the TB centre in Aleppo where doctors started the treatment and explained the importance of taking medication for the next two years for the full recovery. After three months of intensive multiple drug-resistant treatment, Muhdia started recovering. She became pregnant and for...

20 March 2022

Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syrian Arab Republic On Mother’s Day, I would like to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary resilience and leadership of Syrian women – daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers. For the last 11 years since the start of the crisis in Syria, women have faced many challenges, yet firmly continue to contribute to health, well-being and the advancement of their own families, communities and the country at large. Women constitute over half of the Syrian population. Over six million women are in need of...

10 February 2022

Summary As of 5 February 2022, the total number of COVID-19 vaccines delivered to Syria through the COVAX Facility is 8 352 740, in addition to 2 713 640 doses received through bilateral agreements. These allocations are enough to cover 38% of the population. In the near future, over 3.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be delivered through COVAX and will be sufficient to cover an additional 18.2% of the population.  In January 2021, the Ministry of Health received 151 200 doses of AstraZeneca/AZD1222 through COVAX donated by Japan, 1...

10 February 2022

9 February 2022, Damascus – In coordination with the national health authorities, WHO and partners continue to bridge vaccine inequity and increase vaccination rates in the Syrian Arab Republic, aiming for the 40% national COVID-19 vaccination target by April this year.   Although the total number of COVID-19 vaccines delivered to the Syria through the COVAX Facility and bilateral agreements were sufficient to cover 39% of the population as of 27 January 2022, the percentage of fully vaccinated Syrians remains as low as 5%. “At this critical time, all stakeholders should team up...

01 February 2022

DAMASCUS, 1 February 2022 – 3 996 000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Syria on 26 of January, donated by Italy through the COVAX Facility.  In May last year, as chair of the G20, Italy hosted the Global Health Summit alongside the European Commission, which saw many European countries pledge to share millions of vaccine doses to priority countries like Syria, boosting short-term supplies.  The European Union (EU) and its Member States are so far the biggest donor of COVID-19 vaccines in the world, having shared...

24 January 2022

DAMASCUS, 23 January 2022 – Syria has recently received 151 200 doses of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the Government of Japan through the COVAX Facility. The donation is part of the continuous efforts to protect people of Syria from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Government of Japan has provided approximately 150 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in Japan, through the COVAX Facility, to the people of Syria, as part of assistance by Japan to contribute to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in Syria. Japan will continue to provide various...

13 January 2022

13 January 2022 – The evaluation, commissioned by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, with support from the WHO Evaluation Office, assessed WHO’s emergency response in Syria due to the conflict from 2016 to 2020, including its strategy, interventions, operations, performance and results, as well as its engagement and coordination with partners toward these same ends. It included operations conducted through the main office in Damascus and sub-offices within Syria, cross-border operations from Gaziantep, previous cross-border work from Erbil and Amman, Whole of Syria Health Cluster coordination from Amman, and support...

23 December 2021

23 December 2021, Damascus – The EU is allocating an additional €1 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Syria to strengthen the COVID-19 response. The humanitarian funding will primarily be used to increase testing capacity and scale up vaccination across Syria. Health services in Syria are overstretched, the health workforce is working around the clock, and supplies and resources are depleting quickly to address the increased demands of the COVID-19 response. “WHO continues to provide critical support to respond to the prolonged fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Syria....

14 November 2021

Summary  On 5 November 2021 Syria received 1 356 000 doses of Sinovac through the COVAX Facility. The same round allocation of 358 800 doses of Sinovac were delivered to northwest on 3 September to increase availability of vaccines to respond to emerging needs of the population. After the first consignment received in April this year, this batch is the largest to arrive via COVAX and represents 66% of all COVAX deliveries. Vaccines will be administered as part of the ongoing national vaccination campaign across the country. Syria also received 115...

14 November 2021

14 November 2021 – This week, as key players in creating demand for vaccine, Syrian health care workers built their capacities and strengthened skills in managing vaccine hesitancy as part of the COVID-19 response.​ The interactive training organized by the Ministry of Health and WHO, in partnership with UNICEF, IFRC and SARC aims to identify and address issues that may affect vaccine uptake in the community – issues that include health workers’ personal concerns and beliefs about vaccination.  “Availability and accessibility of COVID-19 vaccines do not automatically guarantee an effective rollout and uptake...

02 November 2021

2 November 2021, Damascus – The latest data from Syria depict that people hospitalized with severe forms of COVID-19 and those who died from its consequences were unvaccinated. It is not surprising, as currently, only 6.2% of the population have received vaccination. If the vaccines in the projected pipeline will be delivered in the coming months, only 16% of the total population could be fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.  Tackling vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine uptake by schoolteachers and administration, as well as helping children to adhere to preventive...

02 November 2021

Abd Abd, 7, lives in Dar Kabira, Syria and suffers from nocturnal enuresis. His mother took him to the paediatric clinic at the community centre where, upon examination, the physician found no physiological cause for the condition and referred the child to the psycho-social support team. Abd attended WHO-supported individual sessions together with his mother. He was engaged in a psychosocial programme while his mother was given guidance on ways in which she can help her son. Abd’s conditions gradually improved. Abd celebrates his small victories as he has finally overcome his...

10 October 2021

10 October 2021, Damascus – Prior to being displaced to Al Hol camp in north-east Syria, Batoul, 28, used to live in Al Bab city in rural Aleppo. She knows very well how the sudden loss of home and loved ones can affect mental health and well-being.  “I was around 27 when I developed a severe psychological condition. I could hear a lot of powerful voices inside my head, and I would have many suspicious thoughts. I suffered as I started mistrusting everyone and lived in constant fear. I went downhill very...

22 September 2021

Summary As of 19 September 2021, a total of 610,257 doses of COVAX and bilateral donations delivered vaccines were administered in government-controlled areas and northeast Syria; and 119,158 doses in northwest Syria.   A total number of vaccinated people in government-controlled areas and northeast Syria is 448,399 (of which 271, 276 are fully vaccinated and 177,123 received their first dose). In northwest Syria, 119,158 people were vaccinated (of which fully vaccinated are 20,953 and those who have received their first dose are 98,205). The Syrian Ministry of Health launched the nationwide vaccination campaign from 5...

22 September 2021

22 September 2021, Damascus – This week stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Foreign Affairs, Education, Higher Education, Finance, Local Administration and Environment, Social Affairs and Labour, Water Resources, Agriculture, Defense, Interior, and Transportation will collectively assess the country’s capacity to address health threats and public health emergencies through a joint external evaluation (JEE) as part of the International Health Regulations (IHR)'s monitoring and evaluation framework. Syria adopted IHR in 2007 and committed to enhancing the national core capacity to prevent, detect, assess, notify and report events, and promptly and effectively...

22 September 2021

22 September 2021 – On World Patient Safety Day on 17 September WHO Syria partnered with the Ministry of Higher Education to Syria in lighting up the Damascus Maternal and Pediatrics hospitals in orange. Orange is landmark signature of the global campaign on the occasion of World Patient Safety Day which this year focused on safe maternal and newborn care.

30 August 2021

30 August 2021, Damascus – The conditions under which people are born, grow, live and age, as well as the forces and systems that shape the conditions of daily life, have an enormous impact on health outcomes. These non-medical factors are called the social determinants of health. They include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems, all of which greatly influence health inequities. Peace and conflict, income and social protection, job security, education, food security, housing, social inclusion, and access to affordable social services – all...

19 August 2021

Summary On 15 August 2021 Syria received the second batch of COVAX-facilitated AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines with support from Sweden, amounting to 174 720 doses, 79% of which will be administered by the national immunization programme in Government-controlled areas and northeast Syria, and approximately 21% in northwest Syria through Gaziantep.  This follows the allocation criteria used for the distribution of the first batch of COVAX AZ vaccines (256 800) The first dose vaccine campaign in northwest Syria started on 1 May 2021 and is still ongoing with 49 130 people covered so far,...

12 August 2021

12 August 2021, Damascus, Syria – WHO welcomes a new donation from the Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development to support health care for all people in need in Syria. This new contribution of US$ 3 million comes at a critical time as the health system faces shortages in resources due to sanctions and is overwhelmed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Kuwait has been a long-standing partner to WHO in our work to save the lives of the Syrian people. We are grateful for this generous contribution that has come as...

12 August 2021

12 August 2021, Damascus, Syria – In response to ongoing conflict in Daraa, south Syria, WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and local health partners to respond to urgent health needs.  “Escalating conflict in Daraa has resulted in significant population movement and increased health needs among an already vulnerable population. WHO has delivered essential supplies and is working with partners to make sure that urgently needed health services are being provided to all those who need them,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Syria. On 2...

11 August 2021

11 August 2021 – More than 355 500 total doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Syria as of 9 August as part of ongoing efforts to protect priority groups and control virus transmission. This includes 55 500 doses administered in northwest Syria and 19 354 doses administered in northeast Syria. This coverage reflects less than 1% of the total population who have been vaccinated with one dose and 0.6% who are fully vaccinated, making Syria one of the countries with the lowest vaccine coverage globally. “In line with WHO recommendations,...

10 July 2021

10 July 2021, Damascus – On World No Tobacco Day in late May, the Syrian Ministry of Health in coordination with WHO organized an exhibition of paintings and sketches by children under the theme of “Tobacco Kills”. The exhibition was organized within the context of the WHO campaign “Commit to Quit” and complemented by performances by children of short plays and educational songs, and displays that highlight the shattering consequences of tobacco products, in all forms, on health. A workshop for tobacco control programme coordinators was held prior to the...

10 July 2021

8 July 2021, Damascus – One in 10 people in Syria live with a mild to moderate mental health condition. Prolonged exposure to conflict and the COVID-19 pandemic have continued to strain the mental well-being of families. In response, WHO Syria and local nongovernmental organizations in Rural Damascus recently launched the “My Hero Is You” campaign, which aims to reduce anxiety and fear associated with COVID-19 among children, and enhance the ability of parents to effectively talk to children about their well-being. The pilot campaign reached 5000 children and included messages...

09 July 2021

9 July 2021, Damascus – War and insecurity continue to take a toll on the Syrian people. In the decade since the conflict began, many have lost their lives or livelihoods and most of the country’s population suffers from one health condition or another, for which service provision is limited. Among those with dire health needs are children, born in a country ravaged by war and displacement.   Two-year old Sally weighed just 4 kilos when she was admitted to Al-HIkma Hospital in Al-Hasakeh governorate in northeast Syria. She was agitated, wheezing...

09 July 2021

9 July 2021, Damascus – Persons with physical disabilities face many challenges, but even more so in a war-ravaged country like Syria, where a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities is merely not an option. Often physical disability leads to hardship as opportunities for employment are limited. Hanano primary health care (PHC) centre in Aleppo is one of the very few centres in Syria that helps persons with disabilities to overcome the physical and psychological barriers to become more confident and empowered citizens. The centre collaborates with WHO, the United Nations...

06 July 2021

6 July 2021 – Syria received the first batch of vaccines supplied through the COVAX initiative on 21 April 2021. In total, 256 800 doses of AstraZeneca SII COVIDSHILD were received and distributed to Government-controlled areas and northeast Syria, as well as to northwest Syria.  The vaccination campaign in Syria started on 17 May 2021. Of total doses provided to Syria, 53 800 doses were delivered through Gaziantep for use in northwest Syria and 203 000 doses to Damascus for use in a national campaign implemented by the Ministry of Health across...

29 June 2021

29 June 2021 – 17 500 of the 203 000 COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered to Syria thus far through the COVAX Facility were sent to northeast Syria as part of the country’s national immunization programme. The vaccines were airlifted from Damascus to Quamishli. Around 13 320 doses were allocated for use in the governorate of Al-Hasakeh and 4180 for use in areas of the governorate of Deir-ez-Zor under the control of the Self-Administration. In addition to the COVAX consignment, 6200 vaccine doses were delivered overland to Ar-Raqqa governorate. As of 27 June, 11...

27 June 2021

27 June 2021, Damascus – More than 30 representatives from key Syrian national media outlets took part in an information session organized by the Syrian Ministry of Health and the WHO country office in Syria to address rumours and misinformation and increase public acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines.  “Fighting the pandemic and misinformation requires a whole-of-society approach and since the pandemic started, access to reliable, consistent, and accurate information has been critical. In addition to supporting national authorities to develop and disseminate public health messages, media professionals play an important role in...

15 June 2021

On 22 April 2021, Syria received the first batch of 256,800 doses of COVID-19 vaccines facilitated through COVAX. This vaccine delivery (AstraZeneca vaccines from the Serum Institute of India, AZ SII) will be distributed to frontline health workers across Syria, including the northeast and northwest. The COVID-19 vaccines were delivered through two shipments: 203,000 doses arrived in Damascus for all governorates and additional 53,800 doses were delivered through Gaziantep for the crossborder shipment to the northwest. Vaccine distribution and administration will start in early May 2021. (for more information, read...

10 May 2021

10 May 2021, Damascus – In responding to the humanitarian needs of affected populations and to enhance the quality of health care in Syria, the World Health Organization delivered 40 equipped ambulances to the Ministry of Health yesterday. Since the onset of the crisis, two thirds of the ambulances in Syria have been destroyed, which has impeded the ability of the emergency services to respond effectively, leading to a critical gap in referral services and causing affected populations to experience life-threatening delays in obtaining emergency health services. “The ambulances, which will...

22 April 2021

DAMASCUS, 22 April 2021 – 203 000 doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India arrived in Damascus today through the COVAX Facility. This first batch of the vaccines will be allocated to frontline health workers, including health workers in northeast Syria. Simultaneously, a separate batch of 53 800 doses of Astra Zeneca vaccines for the high-risk populations in northwest Syria is also shipped through WHO and UNICEF offices in Gaziantep. Under the COVAX Facility, Syria is one of the 92 countries eligible for advance market distribution of...

18 April 2021

18 April 2021 - In Syria, approximately one in 10 people is expected to be living with a mild to moderate mental health condition, while 1 in 30 is likely to suffer from a more severe condition. Prolonged exposure to conflict increased the prevalence of mental health conditions. COVID-19 has added more strain to the mental wellbeing of families in Syria. In 2020 only, WHO provided over 220 thousand mental health consultations and services through integrated community-based services – either through mobile clinics or through family wellbeing centres across the...

11 April 2021

9 April 2021 - Amidst a decade-long conflict, economic crisis and political upheaval, WHO continues to support strengthening public health programmes and implementation of immunization activities, national polio vaccination campaigns and surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis. In the middle of March 2021, a national polio immunization campaign concluded, reaching 2.5 million children under the age of five in all 14 governorates of Syria, including high-risk areas of the eastern Euphrates, refugee and IDP camps, and nomadic areas. “Since Syria is close to countries that are at high risk of polio outbreaks, it...

08 April 2021

Reflection of Michael Atieh, WHO Syrian Arab Republic country office staff member 8 April 2021 - Children go running around playing with each other daily without a worry in mind. They play in the sand, dirt, mud and wherever else their imaginative young minds take them. However, consequences arise when improper sanitation is part of a child’s daily routine. Since these children are young and may not be attentive, they become the most likely victims of intestinal worms. These intestinal worms are transmitted by worm’s eggs present in human faeces, which...

07 April 2021

7 April 2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated us all. However, the harshest impact has been on people already experiencing inequities because of poverty, gender, ethnicity, education, occupation, migrant status, disability, and discrimination. In conflict-hit Syria, people are disproportionately vulnerable to exposure to the disease in the context of fragile health systems, they lack access to health services and are heavily impacted by economic consequences of the pandemic. Access to COVID-19 vaccines to reduce ongoing transmission is yet another mammoth task for Syria.  COVID-19 is not the only health issue that...

29 March 2021

29 March 2021 – On 25 March 2021, the COVAX Facility informed that deliveries of doses from the Serum Institute of India (SII) to Syria, including northwest Syria, will be delayed in March and April, and that the closest delivery date may be in May 2021. Delays in securing supplies of SII-produced COVID-19 vaccine doses to Syria as well as to several other countries are due to the increased demand for COVID-19 vaccines in India. COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the ACT-Accelerator [1], an instrument jointly convened by the Coalition for Epidemic...

29 March 2021

24 March 2021 – A few months ago, I visited Damascus, Homs and Hama, witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of the decade-long conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis, now worsened by COVID-19. While there, I met frontline workers who continue to brave dangerous working conditions to save lives. I spoke to parents desperate for a better future for their children. In Damascus, I visited a WHO-rehabilitated emergency wing of a hospital which treats hundreds of children daily, suffering burns, injuries and life-threatening infections. Nonetheless, I was struck by the resilience and positive spirit...

17 March 2021

1. Vaccination rollout in Syria Syria received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines (256,800 doses of AstraZeneca SII COVIDSHILD) on 21 April 2021, which were delivered as part of COVAX mechanism. 203 000 doses were allocated for Syrian governorates, including northeast Syria and 53 800 were allocated through Gaziantep to target populations in northwest Syria. In the first phase, the vaccines were allocated for frontline health workers as a priority group.   The online pre-registration platform in Government of Syria-controlled areas was launched on 5May 2021 with support of WHO. The platform...

16 March 2021

16 March 2021 – Exactly 10 years after the conflict in Syria began, new challenges have emerged, perpetuating the suffering of Syrian people already exhausted by the ongoing conflict, violence, political fragility, and the burden of unmet socioeconomic needs. COVID-19 and the regional economic crisis have brought further devastation to individuals and communities all over Syria. Given the fragility of the situation, the capacity of the health system is likely to fall short of a successful response to COVID-19 and global efforts to stop its transmission.  With over 90% of the population...

09 February 2021

9 February, Damascus, Syria – WHO Syria and the Government of Japan sealed a strategic agreement to rehabilitate and renovate the Al-Qamishli National Hospital in Al-Hassakeh Governorate of Syria. By signing the agreement, the Government of Japan has demonstrated its continuous commitment to reviving the Syrian health system fatigued by the decade-long crisis. The generous US$ 6 million grant will assist in renewing the 40-year-old infrastructure of the hospital, while revamping secondary health care services at a hospital that serves as the main referral centre for many areas in north-east Syria. Once the hospital is renovated, health workers and doctors with...

09 February 2021

27 January 2021 – The raging war in Syria has taken its toll on the country, its citizens and infrastructure.  During the decade-long crisis a lot of health facilities endured destruction. According to the WHO Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) for September 2020, about 51% of Syria’s hospitals as well as 52% of public health centres were either completely out-of-service or partially functional. Consequently, vulnerable communities were deprived of their fundamental right to have access to quality health care. As a lead agency advocating for health for all...

24 January 2021

22 December 2020, Damascus, Syria – Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative in Syria, along with Dr Ahmad Khleifawi, Syrian Deputy Minister of Health, chaired a meeting for national and international health sector partners to review the findings of the recent Intra-Action Review (IAR) meeting, improve the current strategies and strengthen the collective response to COVID-19.   Earlier in December 2020, WHO and the Ministry of Health organized a multisectoral IAR meeting to identify best practices, gaps and challenges in addressing the COVID-19 emergency in Syria. The 3-day meeting provided a unique platform to discuss major COVID-19 response pillars and established a base for strengthening...

08 November 2020

8 November 2020 – I recently returned from a 4-day mission to Syria, where I met with officials at all levels, health workers, partners, academia, and others to learn more about the overall health situation, find new ways of working together to strengthen service delivery, protect Syrians from current threats, and help strengthen the devastated health system. I met frontline health workers and patients in Damascus, Homs and Hama, including 6-year-old Jaafar, who depends on dialysis sessions 3 times a week at a WHO-supported NGO-run health care centre in Homs to...

25 October 2020

24 October 2020, Damascus, Syria – A chartered aircraft has landed in Damascus International Airport from the WHO's logistics hub in Dubai, carrying WHO supplies to support the health response in Syria. The 8.8-ton shipment includes medical kits and medicines for almost 2000 beneficiaries and enough personal protective equipment to protect more than 4000 health care workers. “Health care workers are the backbone of any health system, and protecting them is protection for us all,” said Dr Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, who handed over the supplies...

14 October 2020

14 October 2020, Syrian Arab Republic – Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, movement restrictions and lockdowns can have as much of a negative impact on people as the virus transmission itself. Patients needing mental health services are most affected, especially those struggling to access treatment at a health care facility. In Syria, 75% of people with mental health conditions receive no treatment at all, and the current pandemic is further aggravating the situation. “There is no health without mental health. We live in an environment where mental health needs are greater than...

28 August 2020

Damascus: August 27, 2020 – WHO confirmed today the first COVID-19 case among residents in Syria’s Al Hol camp. The female patient is 29 years old and in stable condition. She is being treated in an isolation area in Phase 7 of the camp, where a national NGO, in partnership with WHO, is providing case management support. Health workers have already begun contact tracing and will be monitoring all close contacts for COVID-19 symptoms. WHO is collaborating with camp authorities and partners to engage communities, reinforcing messages about measures that they...

30 June 2020

Within the context of the Brussels conference on Syria, WHO emphasizes that health is a human right that must be respected by all parties to the conflict, that attacks on health workers and facilities must stop, and that there must be adequate investments in the health sector 30 June 2020 – As the crisis in Syria enters its tenth year, WHO calls on parties to the conflict and the international donor community to put the health and well-being of the Syrian people first. Sustained access via all modalities and sufficient resources...

29 June 2020

More than 210 000 children under the age of 5 across Syria catch up on their vaccines Damascus, 29 June 2020 – With an aim to maintain vital routine immunization services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a national immunization campaign supported by WHO and UNICEF has concluded across Syria. During the 5-day campaign, implemented by the Syrian Ministry of Health, health workers checked the vaccination status of more than 900 000 children and vaccinated more than 210 100 children to ensure they are caught up with the routine immunization schedule. Over 1000...

01 June 2020

1 June 2020 — The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered 20 tons of medical supplies to Al-Qamishli in northeast Syria, the second delivery of its kind in 2 weeks. The supplies will be distributed to public health facilities in Al-Hasakeh, Ar-Raqqa and Deir-Ez-Zor governorates. The 2 shipments contain equipment and medical supplies to treat many diseases, including COVID-19. The delivery also included basic and mobile X-ray machines, intensive care beds and hospital beds, operating tables, incubators, oxygen concentrator, cholera kits, wheelchairs and a diesel generator. “During the last 2 weeks, WHO delivered...

07 May 2020

7 May 2020 – WHO welcomes Dr Akjemal Magtymova as incoming WHO Representative to the Syrian Arab Republic. Dr Magtymova joins WHO Syria at a critical time, with multiple public health threats threatening the well-being of millions of Syrians. An outbreak of COVID-19 in the country has placed additional pressure on a health system ravaged by years of war. “I am delighted to join the WHO Syria team to support its mission. What we do is noble, and I have no doubt that it is driven by this team’s passion to...

19 April 2020

19 April 2020 - Generous funding from the Government of Norway during the last 4 years has enabled WHO to reach more than 1.4 million beneficiaries in Syria and improve their access to primary health care services through 40 nongovernmental organization partners. From 2016 to 2019, Norway provided flexible funding to WHO Syria totalling more than US$ 34 million. Of this, nearly US$ 2.7 million was directed to national NGOs operating within the health sector, allowing WHO to scale up its interventions across the country and access hard-to-reach areas. “Norway has been...

02 April 2020

2 April 2020 – The World Health Organization (WHO) is working closely with the Syrian Ministry of Health to enhance Syria’s preparedness and response to COVID-19.  WHO’s support focuses on 4 main priorities: enhancing surveillance and expanding laboratory testing for early detection of cases; protecting health care workers by providing them with protective equipment; ensuring proper case management, isolation and contact tracing; and raising awareness and conducting risk communication. “WHO classifies Syria as among the high-risk countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as a result of challenges in the health system resulting from over 9 years...

09 March 2020

Every 4 days in 2019, a health facility in Syria was attacked. A majority occurred in the northwest, where the world‘s most urgent humanitarian crisis continues to unfold. March 2020, Geneva/Copenhagen/Cairo – The World Health Organization condemns in the strongest terms, attacks on health care that have been a hallmark of the complex humanitarian crisis in Syria that this month enters its tenth year. “The data we can now reveal on attacks on health in Syria is a grim testament to a blatant disrespect for international humanitarian law and the lives...

05 March 2020

5 March 2020, Damascus - The World Health Organization (WHO) categorically refutes the misinformation circulating on social media that has been falsely accredited to WHO related to COVID-19 in Syria. As per a statement by the Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean published on Tuesday 3 March, 2020, "1682 cases of Covid-19 disease in 14 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, as of 2 March, at 6 pm local time in the city of Cairo, including 66 reported deaths in Islamic Republic of Iran.” Syria is not among these 14 countries. WHO...

28 February 2020

WHO provides more than 225 000 courses of treatment to internally displaced Syrians in Idlib and Aleppo 28 February 2020, Geneva/Copenhagen/Cairo – In a two-day operation the World Health Organization sent 55 tons of medicine and medical supplies in 7 trucks from Turkey into Idlib governorate and parts of Aleppo. Since December 2019 the area has witnessed the largest exodus of internally displaced Syrians in the 9-year history of the Syria conflict. “This is the bleakest situation we’ve been in since the war started. Peoplehave no idea where to go, they only...

17 February 2020

17 February 2020 – WHO handed over 6 equipped ambulances to the Ministries of Health and Higher Education thanks to a generous donation from the Government of Japan. These ambulances are a vital boost to WHO’s efforts to support emergency and ambulance services with a view to improving the health outcomes of internally displaced people and local communities in south and northwest Syria, especially mothers and children, through reducing avoidable morbidity and mortality. In addition to the ambulances and as part of this same initiative, the Japanese Government is also providing 2 mobile...

10 February 2020

10 February 2020 – WHO welcomes the generous support from the Government of Japan to conducted training courses for Ministry of Health and Ministry of Higher Education engineers through the “ Training for All – (T4A)” project on acquiring the know-how in installing and maintaining lifesaving and state of-the-art medical equipment at health facilities inside Syria. “Equipping health facilities with the right technology while building the teams’ technical skills will undoubtedly have a sustainable impact on the quality of medical services provision for years to come” said Dr Nima Abid, acting WHO Representative in Syria....

03 February 2020

3 February 2020, Geneva-Cairo-Copenhagen – The World Health Organization raises alarm over critical health threats facing hundreds of thousands of Syrians forced to flee due to intensified hostilities in northwest Syria and attacks on health care. Fighting in Idleb governorate, the last area in the country under opposition-control, has intensified in recent weeks and past days have seen unprecedented mass displacement. Since 1 December more than half a million people or nearly 520 000, are thought to have fled the violence. On average, WHO and its partners reach 800 000 people in northwest Syria every month – but the situation on...

21 January 2020

21 January 2020 – WHO welcomes a new contribution of $3 million from the Russian Federation to support the provision of health care services for vulnerable people in the Syrian governorates of Dar'a, Deir-ez-Zor, Homs and Qunitera. “We are extremely grateful for Russia’s generous contribution which has come as a major step towards reviving the availability of health care services to all people in need,” said Dr Nima Abid, acting WHO Representative in Syria. "Restoring the provision of health care services is a key building block for encouraging the return of displaced...

17 December 2019

17 December 2019, Damascus, Syria – In the crowded reception area of the Disability and Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Damascus, 13-year old Ali from Ar-Raqqa governorate waits for his name to be called. His father Jaseem waits patiently with him, optimistic that his son will receive the best possible treatment. Ali was injured during a bombardment of his area of Ein Issa city in north-east Syria two years ago while helping his father in their small shop. Shrapnel hit his leg and he was rushed to hospital, where doctors had...

08 December 2019

8 December 2019, Damascus — On the occasion of World AIDS Day (1 December) and under the slogan ”My health needs under one roof; integrating HIV health services,” WHO, in cooperation with the Syrian Ministry of Health, called for more concerted action to prevent HIV and highlighted global obligations to provide people living with HIV the life-saving treatment they need in a manner that respects their dignity and human rights.

14 October 2019

13 October, Cairo, Egypt — WHO is gravely concerned about the humanitarian health situation in northeast Syria, where up to 200,000 people have been displaced as a result of increased military operations since 9 October, and almost 1.5 million people are in need of health aid. Many of those affected by the recent hostilities have already experienced immense physical and mental stress as a result of years of conflict and repeated displacement. People in need of essential health care services face challenges related to insecurity and limited access to health care....

22 September 2019

22 September 2019 –The World Health Organization (WHO) has serious concerns over recent reporting of an increase in the number of child deaths in Al Hol camp. Such reporting has provided an inaccurate analysis on under-5 mortality, misrepresented some of the data, and overstated the gravity of the health situation in the camp. While health needs in both the Annex – which houses foreign nationals - and the rest of the camp remain acute, overall mortality rates have been within international standards since April 2019; under-5 mortality rates have remained...

12 September 2019

12 September 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) extends its gratitude to the People of Japan for the generous donation of US$ 5.2 million allocated to equipping the paediatric hospital in the Aleppo governorate and enabling vulnerable families in north, north-west and north-east Syria to have access to proper medical health care services for children. This donation is part of the new Japanese project for the early recovery of East Aleppo, to be implemented  in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and WHO with a...

20 August 2019

20 August 2019 – 32-year-old Bayan is the head nurse at Al-Hikmah hospital in Al-Hasakeh governorate. She has spent the past 8 years in critical care, looking after emergency, trauma and intensive care patients. “Nursing is immensely fulfilling”, she says. “People are admitted in a critical condition, and you nurse them back to health. You accompany them on their journey: you rejoice with them when they make progress, you encourage them when there are setbacks, and you let them express their fears and frustrations. Not all of them do so...

14 July 2019

14 July 2019 – When Elizabeth Hoff was appointed as WHO Representative in Syria in 2012, she didn’t expect that she would spend the next several years leading the emergency health response in what has been described as the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian emergency. After seven years of working in the war-ravaged country, the next chapter of her career will take her to Libya, where she has been nominated WHO Representative. “I leave Syria with a heavy heart,” she says. “This has been the richest and most rewarding position...

01 July 2019

1 July 2019 – WHO has successfully evacuated a 60-year-old female patient with a mental disorder from Al Hol camp in north-east Syria to a WHO-supported psychiatric hospital in Aleppo.

17 June 2019

17 June 2019, Damascus, Syria – With support from WHO, a team of senior medical specialists from the Bambino Gesú hospital in Rome (the largest paediatric hospital in Italy) has just concluded a one-week visit to Syria to work with their counterparts in the Paediatric Hospital in Damascus. The team has made several visits to Syria as part of a collaborative programme to build the capacity of the Paediatric Hospital in Damascus. WHO supports the hospital with state-of-the-art equipment and supplies, while specialists from Bambino Gesú provide supportive supervision and practical...

05 May 2019

5 April 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) strongly condemns the consecutive reported attacks on 3 health facilities in north-west Syria on 28 and 30 April. The attacks resulted in damage to infrastructure, putting them out of service. Of the 3 facilities attacked, 2 were hospitals located in northern Hama providing life-saving medical services to thousands of vulnerable populations affected by increased hostilities over the past weeks. The first hospital hit, in the early hours of 28 April, offered general surgery, maternal and child care services to approximately 8000 beneficiaries...

22 April 2019

22 April 2019, Damascus, Syria ‒ Over the next 6 days, the World Health Organization (WHO), in cooperation with the Syrian Ministry of Health and UNICEF, will conduct a series of national immunization days to immunize children under the age of 5 against vaccine-preventable diseases, including tuberculosis, pertussis, diphtheria, polio, tetanus, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza, measles, mumps and rubella. WHO aims to vaccinate approximately 2.8 million children under the age of 5 in 13 governorates in Syria. The campaign will focus on reaching almost 250 000 children who were not vaccinated...

27 March 2019

27 March 2019, Damascus, Syria ‒ 35-year-old Kawthar is one of the tens of thousands of Syrians who fled intense fighting in Afrin city, north-west Syria last year. She and her family now live in a camp for displaced persons in northern rural Aleppo. In late 2018, a team from the World Health Organization visited the camp to screen people suspected of having tuberculosis (TB). Kawthar was one of several people confirmed as having the disease.   Kawthar was pregnant when she was first diagnosed. She refused to take her medicines...

21 March 2019

21 March 2019 – Baby Aynaa was only three months old when she and her mother fled from conflict-torn Deir-ez-Zor to Al-Hol camp in the neighbouring governorate of Al-Hasakeh. They endured a week-long journey in freezing temperatures and driving rain, with little food or water to sustain them. By the time she reached the safety of the camp, Aynaa was severely malnourished and close to death. Her weight had plummeted to 2.7 kgs and she was comatose.

06 March 2019

6 March 2019 - Um Hassan, from rural Aleppo, was collecting truffles in the countryside to sell in local markets. At the end of a long day of backbreaking work in harsh winter conditions, she and her children climbed into a crowded lorry to begin their journey home. Half-way through their trip, the lorry drove over an unexploded mine. Um Hassan’s 10-year old daughter Lolo was killed instantly and two of her other children were seriously injured.

31 January 2019

31 January 2019, Damascus, Syria – The World Health Organization is extremely concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Al-Hol camp in Al-Hasakeh governorate, and calls on all parties to the conflict to provide unhindered humanitarian access to people in need of life-saving aid. Over the last 2 months, approximately 23 000 people, mainly women and children fleeing hostilities in rural areas of neighbouring Deir-ez-Zor, have arrived in the camp. Many of them have walked or travelled in open trucks for several days and nights in the bitterly cold winter weather....

30 January 2019

30 January 2019, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – 14-year-old Khaled lives with his mother and 3 brothers in eastern Ghouta, Rural Damascus. His father died 5 years ago, leaving his family with very little. Following his father’s death, Khaled and his family lived through some of the darkest days of the conflict. The situation was even more distressing for Khaled, who suffers from congenital hearing loss. When his hearing aid broke 5 years ago, his mother could not afford the cost of a replacement. Khaled has lived in a world...

23 January 2019

23 January 2019 – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) airlifted more than 28 tonnes of medical supplies, equipment and vaccines to Al-Hasakeh governorate to respond to growing health needs in north-east Syria. This is the second shipment the Organization has airlifted to Al-Hasakeh this month. A first shipment of 20 tonnes of medical supplies was airlifted to the governorate on 8 January 2019.

21 January 2019

21 January, 2019, Damascus, Syria – The Government of Kuwait has contributed more than US$ 3.8 million to WHO’s emergency and humanitarian operations in Syria. WHO will use the contribution to procure essential medicines and medical equipment for hospitals and health facilities throughout the country, focusing on facilities that provide treatment to children suffering from cancer. Many Syrian families with seriously ill children travel long distances to reach the Al-Bairouni hospital in Rural Damascus and the paediatric hospital in Damascus, currently the only 2 public hospitals that have specialized cancer care...

17 January 2019

17 January 2019, Damascus, Syria – The World Health Organization expresses severe concern about the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Rukban settlement close to the border with Jordan, and calls for immediate access to the settlement to assess the health situation, provide essential medicines and medical supplies, and support the medical evacuation of critically ill patients. Approximately 40 000 people, mostly women and children, remain stranded in the settlement and are unable to leave, and harsh winter conditions have reportedly led to several deaths. Health care facilities are barely functioning and have...

10 January 2019

10 January 2019. Today, using a generous contribution from the Government of Japan, WHO handed over 16 ambulances to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The ambulances will help improve referral and emergency services in critically underserved governorates. The donation comes at a crucial moment. The demand for health care services has continued to grow as more areas in the country become accessible. Moreover, thousands of people are returning to their homes to find that basic health care and referral services have been badly disrupted. The ambulances will allow the SARC to...

08 January 2019

8 January 2019 — WHO has airlifted 20 tons of medical supplies and equipment to Al-Qamishli in Al-Hasakeh governorate. WHO staff in Al-Qamishli are distributing the supplies to health partners in the north-eastern governorates of Al-Hasakeh, Deir-ez-Zor and Ar-Raqqa. The supplies, including antibiotics, anaesthetics, surgical supplies, IV fluids, trauma kits and medicines to treat noncommunicable diseases and common illnesses, are sufficient for 110 000 medical treatments. The shipment also included electrocardiography and haemodialysis machines, ventilators and incubators.

08 January 2019

Baghdad 8 January 2019 – The World Health Organization (WHO) extends its gratitude to the US Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) for the generous contribution of US$ 2.5 million to support the health security of Syrian refugees living in Iraq. Iraq continued to host Syrian refugees throughout 2018. It is estimated that 250,000 Syrian refugees are currently residing in the three governorates of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) - Erbil, Dahuk, and Sulaymaniyah. The majority (64%) live with the host communities. “There is an urgent need...

27 December 2018

27 December 2018 – A generous donation from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has enabled WHO to support medical teams in southern Syria. The teams provide primary health care services to thousands of people in the south who fled their homes in late June 2018 following an acute escalation of the conflict.

19 December 2018

19 December 2018 – A generous donation of US$ 1 000 000 from the State of Kuwait has brought a glimmer of hope to cancer patients in Syria at a time when public health services have been badly disrupted.

02 December 2018

2 December 2018 – The polio outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) detected in 2017 in Syria has been successfully stopped, with no international spread, according to experts. An official outbreak response assessment, comprising experts in global public health, virology and epidemiology, reviewed all available surveillance and immunization evidence from the past 18 months, and conducted first-hand field visits to the affected areas, including the epicentre of the outbreak, Deir Ez-Zor. The group concluded that the outbreak could now be closed.

29 November 2018

29 November 2018 – At around midnight on 24 November 2018, WHO received unconfirmed reports of patients arriving in health facilities in Aleppo with symptoms that might be consistent with exposure to chemical agents. At approximately the same time, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security office in Syria reported unconfirmed information that the Al-Zahraa, Al-Khaldiyyeh and Nile Street areas of Aleppo city had been shelled with rounds of mortar fire that included an unknown type of gas. According to unconfirmed reports, dozens of patients were being admitted to...

01 November 2018

1 November 2018 – Fifty-five year old Um Mohammad from Ar-Raqqa governorate in the Syrian Arab Republic was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago. There are no public hospitals in the governorate that can provide the treatment she needs, so she has to travel every 2 weeks to a national hospital in the neighbouring governorate of Hama for chemotherapy. The journey takes 8 hours each way. A tearful Um Mohammad said that the constant travel, on top of her illness, has left her exhausted. “I have been travelling to Hama...

25 October 2018

24 October, 2018 – A generous donation from the Government of Japan has allowed WHO to launch a one-year project to rehabilitate selected health care facilities in Syria. Currently, more than half the country’s hospitals and health care centres are closed or only partially functioning. This latest contribution from Japan will help improve access to health care services for Syrians in critical geographic locations, especially those with high numbers of internally displaced people. In addition to supporting the restoration of health care facilities, WHO will use the funds to deliver medicines and supplies,...

11 October 2018

11 October 2018, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic – Thanks to a generous contribution from the Government of Japan, WHO has supported the rehabilitation of two primary health care centres in east and northwest Aleppo. The two health centres were heavily affected by intensified fighting and were forced to close in 2013, depriving thousands of local residents of basic health care services. The Khaled Ben Al-Walid Health Centre in Al-Khalidiya district in northwest Aleppo and Al-Ma’asaraniyeh Health Centre in Al-Ma’asaraniyeh district in east Aleppo are reopening at a crucial time. People who...

26 September 2018

26 September 2018, Syria – The only tuberculosis (TB) control centre in Aleppo governorate is ready to open its doors again. Damages sustained during the conflict in 2016 forced the centre to close, leaving more than one thousand tuberculosis patients without access to life-saving treatment. Extensive renovations, made possible by a generous donation from the Government of Japan, have allowed the centre to reopen its doors to TB patients in Aleppo and other parts of northern Syria.

14 September 2018

14 September 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday airlifted 21 tons of essential medical supplies and vaccines to Al-Hasakeh governorate in north-east Syria. This is the fourth time this year that the Organization has delivered emergency health supplies to the governorate. 

03 September 2018

3 September 2018, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the generous donation from the Government of Japan which has enabled WHO to procure advanced medical equipment. The equipment, worth over US$ 12 million, is the largest donation received by WHO in Syria. It includes magnetic resonance imaging scanners, ultrasound machines, echocardiography equipment, X-ray machines, respirators and other items. WHO in Syria will distribute the equipment to public and university hospitals throughout the country.  

19 August 2018

19 August 2018 – 8 years into the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic, attacks on health care facilities and personnel in the country continue to rise despite United Nations resolutions strongly condemning these attacks. In the first 6 months of 2018, there were 126 separate attacks on health care in Syria – more than for the whole of 2017. Syria now accounts for a staggering 70% of all attacks on health care facilities documented by WHO worldwide.

17 August 2018

20 August 2018 – As the conflict in northwest Syria escalates, WHO is appealing for US$ 11 million to provide life-saving health care to people in parts of Aleppo, Hama, Idleb and Lattakia governorates. Hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom have been previously displaced, may be displaced yet again as they flee growing insecurity and violence. The situation in Idleb is particularly dire; more than half a million people have been displaced to and within the governorate since January 2017.

15 August 2018

Amman, 15 August 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the provision of life-saving health care services for more than 900 000 conflict-affected people in southern Syria. Since mid-June 2018, WHO has delivered 61 tons of supplies – enough for more than 312 000 treatments – to the Directorates of Health in Dar’a and Quneitra, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and As Sweida National Hospital. The supplies include surgical, trauma and burn kits, chronic disease medicines and insulin. WHO is also supporting the only functioning blood bank in areas...

24 July 2018

25 July 2018 – Childirth is often filled with uncertainty, especially for women living in conflict-affected or insecure environments. WHO has launched a new programme to help Syrian mothers during their pregnancy and after birth to manage this life-changing event.  The “caring for the newborn at home” initiative guides all mothers on the steps they and their families can take to ensure their newborn children have a healthy start in life.  Under the new programme, WHO-trained community health workers will make home visits to help mothers during pregnancy and after childbirth. To begin...

12 July 2018

12 July, 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO) today called for the protection of health facilities and increased access to southern Syria, where the recent hostilities have left over 210 000 people displaced and in need of urgent health services. Up to 160 000 displaced Syrians currently seeking safety in Quneitra are inaccessible to health partners, raising concerns for their health. “People in Dar’a and Quneitra are waiting for the humanitarian community to reach them with urgently needed aid and we cannot let them down. Access must be granted,” said Dr...

05 July 2018

7 July 2018 – On 1 July 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered over 17 tons of life-saving medicines and medical equipment to the newly accessible city of Douma in eastern Ghouta in Rural Damascus. The WHO supplies, dispatched as part of an inter-agency humanitarian convoy, are sufficient for more than 26 000 treatments for ill and wounded patients, and will be distributed to health care facilities supported by the Directorate of Health and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. They include essential and chronic disease medicines, nutritional supplements, trauma and burn...

29 June 2018

28 June 2018, Amman, Jordan -- Opposition-controlled areas in southern Syria are witnessing a dramatic increase in violence that has led to high levels of insecurity and the displacement of tens of thousands of people. Over 80% of the estimated 525 000 people living in these areas are expected to need humanitarian assistance as a result of the fighting. This includes up to 50 000 people who have displaced over the past two weeks. On 27 June, WHO’s office in Damascus dispatched over 27 tons of medical supplies to respond to...

14 June 2018

14 June, 2018, Damascus, Syria –  With support from the World Health Organization (WHO), Al Moadamya primary health care centre in rural Damascus, Syria, has reopened after extensive rehabilitation made possible by a generous donation from the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).    The centre serves more than 3800 people in the area, including almost 1800 people displaced from other parts of Rural Damascus. Services provided by its 19-strong team of doctors, nurses and midwives include vaccinations, maternal, newborn and child health, mental health, trauma care, nutrition, and treatment...

11 April 2018

11 April 2018 – WHO is deeply alarmed by reports of the suspected use of toxic chemicals in Douma city, East Ghouta. According to reports from Health Cluster partners, during the shelling of Douma on Saturday, an estimated 500 patients presented to health facilities exhibiting signs and symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals. In particular, there were signs of severe irritation of mucous membranes, respiratory failure and disruption to central nervous systems of those exposed. More than 70 people sheltering in basements have reportedly died, with 43 of those deaths...

05 April 2018

Damascus, 5 April 2018 – The Government of Japan has committed a total of US$ 5 million in new assistance to the World Health Organization (WHO) to strengthen primary health care for vulnerable populations in northern Syria, and to improve secondary and tertiary care for children from across the country, including those who come from East Ghouta. US$ 3.5 million of this package will be used to equip and rehabilitate the Emergency Department of the Damascus Paediatric Hospital, a key health institution providing vital support to critically ill children. Essential medical...

04 April 2018

Damascus, 4 April 2018 – Marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are calling for concerted international action in response to the devastating health consequences of explosive hazards in Syria. More than 8 million people are exposed to explosive hazards in Syria, including over 3 million children.  In 2017, at least 910 children were killed and 361 children were maimed in Syria, including by explosive remnants of war and victim-activated improvised explosive devices. In the first 2 months of...

21 March 2018

21 March 2018, Damascus – The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the delivery of critical health care for Syrians fleeing the escalating violence in besieged East Ghouta. WHO has activated an emergency operations centre that works around the clock to assist the tens of thousands of Syrians from East Ghouta who have taken refuge in collective shelters in Rural Damascus.

12 March 2018

12 March 2018 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are supporting a nationwide polio vaccination campaign in the Syrian Arab Republic that aims to vaccinate more than 2.4 million children under 5 years of age in 13 governorates. The campaign, which is being managed by the Ministry of Health, was launched on 11 March and will last for 5 days.

08 March 2018

8 March 2018 – Twelve-year-old Fatima Hamidi lives with her 5 sisters and 7 brothers in the city of Aleppo. Over the past few years, her family’s life has been upended by uncertainty and fear. The conflict finally abated last year, and life began returning to normal. But just as Fatima was finishing the school year and getting ready for the summer holiday, her arms and legs became weak. She found it difficult to play with her friends. Eventually, she was unable to move.  After weeks of tests, doctors diagnosed her...

01 March 2018

1 March 2018 – Nour and his family fled their home in a besieged area last year, arriving in Damascus with almost nothing, after living through a terrifying ordeal. Nour lost his father and had stopped speaking. Now 11, Nour lost his hearing when he was an infant, but his family were unable to get him assistance until recently. Last year he received a hearing aid from the Tamayoz Social Care Association, a nongovernmental organization supported in part by the World Health Organization (WHO). "Now he can talk, express his feelings, and call...

28 February 2018

28 February 2018 – WHO has participated in an inter-agency mission to assess health needs in Al-Mouaddamiyeh (Rural Damascus). This area, which recently became accessible following years of siege, is home to over a hundred thousand people. According to the local mayor, the numbers are likely to increase given the new-found stability in the city.   The assessment team, which included representatives of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, found that years of conflict had taken a toll on the city. Its main primary health care (PHC) centre had been damaged and its water...

07 February 2018

7 February 2018 -  The World Health Organization (WHO) dispatched 14 tons of life-saving medicines, anesthetics, antibiotics, emergency medical kits and other treatments to Deir-ez-Zor governorate this week to urgently respond to the critical health needs of people in north-east Syria. The shipment contains more than 303 000 treatments for ill and wounded children, women and men.    Many Syrians who have recently returned to Deir-ez-Zor have found that their homes have been damaged or destroyed, and that health care facilities in the area are closed or are only partially functioning....

06 February 2018

6 February, 2018- The World Health Organization (WHO) has airlifted 17 tons of medical supplies to Al-Hasakeh governorate, Syrian Arab Republic, as part of its continued efforts to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people (IDPs) and critically ill patients in north-east Syria.  The airlift contains enough supplies to treat at least 380 000 people, including those wounded as a result of the ongoing conflict.   The provision of these critically-needed medical supplies is part of WHO’s commitment to boosting the health system in north-east Syria by donating life-saving...

05 February 2018

5 February 2018 – Thirteen-year old Hamad from rural Hama, Syrian Arab Republic, is being treated for leukaemia at the Children’s Hospital in Damascus. On Sunday 4 February, he met Elizabeth Hoff, the WHO Representative in Syria, when she visited the hospital on the occasion of World Cancer Day. He and the other children in the ward received a gift package that included a school bag, colouring book and other items. “Thank you for the bag, I will use it when I go back to school”, said Hamad. “I want to...

31 January 2018

WHO ramps up health support to camps in northeastern Syria in response to huge population movements 31 January 2018 – Sitting on the uneven floor of his small white tent in a displacement camp in northeastern Syria, Nasser Ali Mousa can find only one way to describe what his family went through in Raqqa during years of ISIL occupation and in the fierce battle to dislodge the group from the city. “It was hell,” he says. He looks at his grandson, Ra’ad, playing with a cherub-faced friend from the tent next-door. Ra’ad is wearing...