Dr Aziza Al-Naasan attends to a patient. Photo: WHO25 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 patients by providing the right treatment and guiding them on how to take their medication properly,” she says. “We also offer lab tests and diagnose conditions, which greatly improves their health.”

Many of her patients are displaced people who fled their homes due to violence. Syria is home to an estimated 7.4 million internally displaced people, nearly a third of whom live in Idlib and over a fifth in Aleppo. For them, accessible health care is not just about survival today, it is a vital step towards rebuilding their lives.

“We make sure they get the care they need without having to travel far,” says Dr Aziza. “It brings me joy to know that my work helps ease their suffering.”

A health system struggling to cope

Nearly 14 years of conflict severely weakened Syria’s health system. Only 57% of hospitals and 37% of primary health care centres are fully functional and there are widespread shortages of medicines, equipment and trained personnel.

Despite the challenges, hope is emerging. Dr Aziza speaks of a newfound sense of optimism across Syria – a possibility, however fragile, that years of conflict may be nearing an end.

“People have endured unimaginable hardships and what matters now is ensuring they continue to receive health care,” she says. “Even if peace is within reach, rebuilding lives takes time. Without reliable medical care, the suffering will not end.”

She hopes to see her patients – many of whom have lived through profound trauma – return to their homes, rebuild their communities and access health care in stable environments. But without sustained support, facilities like hers struggle to stay open. 

Keeping health care running

Dr Aziza writes a prescription for her patient, ensuring they receive the care they need. Photo: WHOTo keep critical health services operational, WHO, supported by KSrelief, is providing vital assistance across Syria. Over the past 4 months funding from KSrelief has helped sustain more than 50 health facilities in northwest Syria, including hospitals, primary health care centres, dialysis units and tuberculosis treatment centres.

KSrelief support has ensured Syrians continue to receive medical care. It has covered staff salaries, preventing health workers from having to serve on a voluntary basis, or worse, see their facilities shut down. It has enabled facilities like Al-Bab National Hospital, Hope Hospital for Pediatrics and Maternity, Al-Bab TB Centre, Mare Dialysis Centre and Jarablus primary health care centre provide lifesaving care. Over 154 000 people have benefitted from medical consultations, treatments and surgeries.

“KSrelief’s support has kept our facility running,” says Dr Aziza. “Without it, many health workers would have no choice but to work unpaid. Consistent funding ensures we can provide quality care – not just in emergencies, but to meet long-term health needs.”

A future built on health and stability

Knowing the road to recovery will be long, Dr Aziza is committed to serving those who need her most.

“We want families to return home knowing they will have the health care they need. Health is not just about treating illness, it is about restoring dignity, stability and hope for the future.”

Thanks to partnerships like that of WHO and KSrelief, Syria’s most vulnerable communities will continue to receive the care they need, today and in the years to come.

Paramedic Borhan Jasem Kleeb, 33, participates in a practical session during training. Photo: WHO/Mrinalini Santhanam24 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 during the 2011–2014 siege of the city. Moving to Azaz, northern Aleppo, gave him a fresh start. Now 33, he works with Syria Relief and Development (SRD).

“I’m married now and have 4 children. They help me see things differently and keep me going,” he says.

One moment during the 2023 earthquake stands out for him. He found a 2-year-old child trapped under rubble, still in his mother's arms. While the mother didn't survive, the child did. “The child turned out to be my friend’s son. While grieving the loss of a close friend's wife, saving the little one brought hope.”

Borhan’s job is challenging on many levels. Last year there were 84 attacks on health care across Syria, of which 77 occurred in November and December. The attacks damaged health facilities and disrupted supplies.

“The airstrikes didn’t spare our ambulances. We often made do with what we had, but health partners worked together to make the most of limited resources, ensuring critical services continued. Even with shortages, we kept ambulances running,” Borhan explains. 

Paramedics during a practical session in the training. Photo: WHO/Mrinalini SanthanamAfter 14 years of conflict, Syria's health system struggles with limited funding for ambulance services and gaps in coordination and referral systems, making it hard for patients to access timely care.

To address these gaps, WHO supports emergency services across the country. Of the more than 200 ambulances in northwest Syria, WHO currently supports 27, and backs the Referral Desk in northern Aleppo, helping streamline patient management and coordination, enabling faster treatment.

Recognizing the need for continuous support for paramedics, WHO has focused on enhancing critical skills such as lifesaving care, managing mass casualty situations and providing trauma care before patients reach hospital. WHO began by training 7 paramedics in northwest Syria who then passed on their knowledge to 80 more paramedics, expanding the impact.

Ahmed Jakmour, a paramedic in his thirties who works with SRD, says the training isn’t just about new techniques but building confidence.

“This training has helped us respond better during emergencies, especially when someone has a heart attack. We've learned how to use defibrillators more effectively and how simple things like the right head position can make a big difference in helping someone breathe,” he says. 

Trainers from Medivac Frontline have been central to this effort.

Trainers conducting a session on neonatal resuscitation. Photo: WHO/Mrinalini Santhanam“Despite the challenges they’ve faced, the paramedics were eager to learn and adapt new knowledge to the Syrian context,” says Fergus Beeley, CEO of Medivac Frontline. “Watching these dedicated paramedics apply their new skills effectively is truly rewarding. Their commitment is to improving emergency care across Syria.”

In 2025, WHO will continue to support Syria’s health system, focusing on essential health services and working with the Ministry of Health. Building on lessons learned in Aleppo and Idlib, WHO also looks to expand emergency preparedness efforts in the northeast, including training paramedics to handle trauma and manage patient referrals during crises.

Borhan is hopeful about the future. “This training is helping us save more lives. We’re learning skills that really matter in emergencies and it means our communities will get better care when they need it most.”

Nermin receiving medical treatment at the Burn Unit in Al Razi Hospital20 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 amputating.

Nermeen was admitted to the hospital’s Burns Unit for specialized care. Her parents held onto hope, trusting the doctors to save her. As they do with all cases admitted to the Burns Unit, Dr Alaa Al-Din Allou and his team worked tirelessly to treat Nermeen’s burn injury and restore her to health. The Burns Unit uses advanced equipment, the acquisition and installation of which was made possible by the generous support of the People of Japan. But it wasn’t just the technology that helped. Nermeen received the doctors' dedication and care, with her parents by her side.

Thanks to the skill, compassion and resources at Al-Razi Hospital, Nermeen’s arm was saved.

“I can’t think what would have happened to my daughter if this hospital was not in service. They gave my daughter a second chance at life. I will forever be grateful,” said Nermeen’s mother.

Nermeen’s story is a testament to the vital work done at Al-Razi Hospital, the only specialized treatment center for burns for nearly 4 million people living in Aleppo Governorate and surrounding areas. It covers a vast region that includes Aleppo, Idlib, and other conflict-affected regions.

Overwhelmed by years of conflict and the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake, the Burns Unit underwent extensive rehabilitation in 2022. In the past 2 years, the Unit has admitted 697 patients and provided emergency lifesaving care to over 5876 individuals.

Acting WHO Representative to Syria Christina Bethke emphasized the importance of Japan’s contributions to the hospital: “Without the support of the People of Japan we would not have been able to help Nermeen and so many others in need of specialized burns care. Their support has truly been a lifeline for the health of Syrians during the years of the crisis, enabling us to provide critical care when it is most needed.”

WHO is deeply grateful to the People of Japan who have been steadfast supporters of Syria’s health care system, ensuring that, even amidst conflict people can access the care they need.

Maha Younes actively engages in raising awareness by distributing educational flyers on breast cancer16 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 CERF, WHO trained 200 community health workers from NGOs and health directorates. These dedicated frontline workers gained essential skills to connect with at risk populations and deliver critical education on preventing waterborne diseases such as cholera.

Maha Younes, a 27-year-old health educator with Ayadina Association in Lattakia, was one of the trainees.

“The training was invaluable,” she said. “It gave me the tools and confidence to speak out about waterborne diseases in my community. Now I can clearly explain the importance of safe water and hygiene practices to the families who need it most.”

At Ayadina Association, Maha and her colleagues have turned waiting times at health facilities into valuable moments for education, focusing especially on women and children.

“Prevention is always our first line of defence,” she explained. “Thanks to WHO’s training, I now have the knowledge, confidence and capacity to share accurate health information, empowering people to protect themselves, their families and loved ones."

WHO supported interactive sessions provided community health workers with the ability to lead change in their communities, communicating crucial prevention strategies such as proper sanitation, safe water use and effective hygiene measures. These efforts not only strengthen community resilience but bolster the health care system’s capacity to respond to disease outbreaks.

Maha’s contribution to her community was made possible by resources that were part of a larger CERF-funded multisectoral emergency response project to support critical health interventions across Syria. The project focuses on reducing morbidity and mortality by restoring access to health care, strengthening emergency referral systems and addressing severe malnutrition.

Through these initiatives, WHO is creating long-term change by building local expertise to ensure vulnerable populations have access to lifesaving interventions. As Syria continues to manage multiple challenges these crucial efforts help safeguard public health and prevent future outbreaks.