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WHO marks 13 years of the Syrian crisis with renewed commitment and support
WHO marks 13 years of the Syrian crisis with renewed commitment and support14 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 health care centres are either closed or only partially functioning.
“Thirteen years into the crisis, Syria’s health care system is at its highest need and WHO’s support is more critical than ever,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, acting WHO Representative in Syria. “Investing in essential health services is not only about saving lives today but also about preventing a complete collapse of the health system in the future.”
Since the start of the crisis in 2011, WHO has worked with the Ministry of Health and partners to help ensure that critical health care is available to those who need it most. Since the beginning of the crisis, WHO has provided almost 80 million medical treatments, supported over 11 million medical procedures and 3.3 million trauma consultations, and trained about 178 000 health professionals.
Yet, there is still more work to be done. For instance, rates of depression in Syria have doubled over the past year, as more and more people lose their homes and livelihoods and spiral into poverty.
WHO has focused on strengthening mental health services across the country. This work has included integrating mental health treatments into primary health care services and supporting almost 2 million mental health consultations. WHO has also trained tens of thousands of non-specialized health professionals on basic mental health interventions and psychological first aid.
The need for humanitarian health assistance will remain across the country for the foreseeable future. WHO will continue its life-saving operations, targeting the most vulnerable and in need, and at the same time support the country’s longer-term efforts to rehabilitate and rebuild the health system.
WHO tackles gender-based violence and victim support in post-earthquake Syria
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 and well-being of survivors of GBV and sexual exploitation and abuse. A clear referral pathway was established, ensuring prompt identification and support for over 50 reported cases of GBV and sexual harassment. Assistance was readily available in shelters and community centres, where many incidents were reported as having taken place amid crowded living conditions.
To complement these efforts, a WHO-supported team of experts, volunteers and local organization members ran more than 500 awareness sessions in the community. These aimed to educate residents about GBV and PSEA, available services and how to seek support. This two-pronged approach addressed both the immediate needs of survivors and long-term community understanding.
“Every step we take towards preventing gender-based violence is a stride towards healing, dignity, and a brighter future for all,” emphasized Dr Iman Shankiti, acting WHO Representative in Syria. “By working together, we are not only addressing a crisis, but also laying the foundation for a society that values and ensures the rights and safety of every individual.”
Thanks to the generous support of Kuwait, the project reached 100 locations across the 3 governorates, empowering numerous people with the knowledge and tools to address GBV and PSEA. WHO remains committed to fighting GBV and expanding these critical services across Syria to pave the way for a safer and more just future, where individual rights and dignity are respected and prioritized.
One year on: WHO’s sustained support for Syria’s earthquake recovery efforts
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 have received essential health services through 28 mobile medical teams supported by WHO, and over 197 000 children have been vaccinated. WHO has also supported mental health services for over 922 000 traumatized survivors of the disaster.
These efforts have been critical in meeting immediate health needs and also preventing long-term disabilities and health conditions among the affected population.
WHO continues to provide critical medical equipment to support the Syrian health system in the earthquake-affected areas. Donated equipment includes computed tomography (CT) scanners, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, X-ray machines, ultrasonic devices, ambulances, patient beds, ventilators, oxygen generators and patient monitors.
WHO has also provided enough components for 325 prosthetic devices to be made at the Rehabilitation and Artificial Limbs Centre in Damascus. WHO continues to work with communities to engage and inform them about how to reduce their health risks and better protect themselves in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Dr Iman Shankiti, acting WHO Representative in Syria, said: “As we reflect on the past year, the remarkable resilience of Syrian communities and health workers serves to inspire us in our own work. Their strength in the face of adversity drives our commitment to rebuild Syria’s health infrastructure, to ensure a healthier, more resilient future.”
WHO’s commitment to the people of Syria is unwavering. Thanks to the generous contributions of its donors, WHO will continue its work to support health system rehabilitation and enhance the health and well-being of those affected by this traumatic event.
First responder Dr Siham Makhoul reflects on February 2023 earthquake in Syria
Dr Siham Makhoul, Director of the National Hospital of Latakia, Syria. Photo credit: WHO Syria6 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 immediately. There was no safe place for my family, so I took them with me. We all stayed in a room at the hospital for the first 24 hours.
At the hospital, I had to quickly assess the situation. How many staff did we have? How many surgeons were on call? Did we have enough ambulances, operating theatres, anaesthesia medicines? We had dire shortages of medicines and essential equipment like advanced X-rays, anaesthesia machines and [computed tomography] CT scanners.
Before the earthquake, managing the hospital from day to day was like walking a tightrope; I always felt that with the slightest nudge, we would fall. The earthquake wasn’t just a nudge, though; it was a powerful blow that shook us to the core.
In the days following the earthquake, the hospital was chaos. We were inundated with dead bodies, injured patients, and survivors looking for loved ones. One of our first admissions was a baby who had not survived. It was heartbreaking, but we knew we couldn’t let our emotions get the better of us.
One of my most painful memories is having to treat one of our own doctors, who had been admitted with very severe injuries. I could see that he was dead, but his colleagues tried to resuscitate him nonetheless. I told them that he had not survived and asked them to focus on the living. It was an agonizing moment.
I also remember the incredible solidarity. So many of our staff turned up spontaneously to help the emergency response. The local community brought food and drink. The Ministry of Health helped us tremendously. International organizations donated medicines and supplies. The hospital staff were remarkable. Our surgeons operated round the clock to save lives. Many nurses stayed in the hospital for days on end, treating wounds, caring for patients and supporting their families.
We got through those very difficult days, and we saved many lives. There is no doubt, though, that the trauma of this experience remains with us. To this day, you can see the panic in the eyes of our staff and patients whenever they hear unexpected noises.
