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WHO concerned about health situation in Al Hol camp, Northeast Syria, following denials of access by camp administration
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 and Member States. However, the Organization’s access has not been restored.
The resulting situation directly endangers the lives and well-being of the vulnerable camp population and potentially exposes them to severe public health risks, including disease outbreaks which may increase during warmer months.
WHO reiterates its commitment to vulnerable populations. The Organization is maintaining its efforts to mobilize resources and restore critical services to the camp, including working with donors who are actively seeking to close the funding gap.
WHO’s humanitarian health activities in Al Hol camp extend beyond hospital referrals. Its services include health sector coordination, routine immunization, risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), water quality monitoring, disease surveillance and early warning, delivery of medical supplies, technical health expertise, and capacity building for health workers.
WHO urgently calls on its partners and the international community to support and advocate with relevant stakeholders in Northeast Syria to immediately restore WHO’s access to Al Hol camp. Unconditional access is essential for WHO to deliver on its public health mandate and mitigate the significant health risks in this already vulnerable setting.
Syrian Ministry of Health and WHO partner on action plan for NCDs
The Syrian Ministry of Health and WHO collaborate on the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for prevention and control of NCDs. Photo credit: WHO Syria30 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 risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful alcohol consumption and exposure to air pollution.
Representatives of the Syrian Ministry of Health and WHO discuss the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for prevention and control of NCDs. Photo credit: WHO SyriaDr Iman Shankiti, acting WHO Representative to Syria, said, “This comprehensive strategy prioritizes collaboration among relevant sectors to analyse the current situation, develop a multisectoral national plan and implement joint planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation to minimize population exposure to preventable risk factors. In the end, we aim to address one of the biggest threats to mortality and morbidity in the country, ensuring better health and longer lives for all people in Syria.”
At the meeting, participants discussed critical topics, including the need for a national strategy on NCD prevention and control and chronic diseases management. The group also discussed the role of WHO and stakeholders in addressing significant challenges and fostering partnerships to advance health care in Syria, using the life-course approach. This approach aims to improve health outcomes by addressing social, economic and environmental determinants of health across different stages of life, from prenatal care through to older age.
Related links
Noncommunicable diseases: Regional framework for action
Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of NCDs
Long-term rehabilitation for earthquake survivors in north-west Syria
Yusra engages in physical therapy sessions at the rehabilitation centre to regain her mobility. Photo credit: Physicians Across Continents29 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 nearly 5900 deaths and left more than 12 800 people injured. It uprooted hundreds of thousands of families, and severely damaged infrastructure already made weak by the conflict.
Most injuries sustained in the earthquake were those requiring specialized interventions and long-term rehabilitation. For example, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and orthopaedic conditions like fractures or crushed limbs, some of which called for amputations or other specialized orthopaedic care.
Yusra suffered from hemiplegia – a spinal cord injury that leads to paralysis on one side of the body – resulting in loss of movement in her right leg.
The psychological toll of the harrowing experience of both the earthquake and her physical injury was so profound that Yusra resisted treatment for many months.
Finally, her family convinced her to visit Step of Hope in Azaz, a subdistrict of Idlib. This WHO-supported rehabilitation centre is operated by Physicians Across Continents, a national nongovernmental organization, with generous funding from the Central Emergency Response Fund.
Individualized treatment and rehabilitation
A triumphant moment for Yusra, and the entire medical team at the Step of Hope rehabilitation centre, as she takes her first steps following physical therapy. Photo credit: Physicians Across ContinentsReluctant to engage in treatment at first, Yusra gradually began to open up to the possibility of recovery thanks to the consistent support and encouragement of the Step of Hope staff.
A tailored treatment plan for Yusra was drawn up to address both the physical and psychological aspects of her condition. Physical therapy sessions focused on improving mobility and functions. Occupational therapy aimed to restore independence in daily activities. She also received psychological support to overcome her trauma and rebuild her mental resilience.
The collaborative efforts of the centre’s health workers, including therapists, counsellors and support staff, played a pivotal role in her rehabilitation journey. Over time, Yusra made remarkable progress. She regained her mobility with the help of a walker, and her outlook became increasingly positive – so much so that she resumed her education.
“When I started the treatment, I was sceptical and afraid I would not be able to make any progress. I cannot describe my happiness being able to stand up and move my legs,” says Yusra. “Now I am determined to pursue my dreams, complete my education and become a teacher.”
In the aftermath of the earthquake, WHO supported 5 rehabilitation centres to provide similar inpatient rehabilitation services, reaching more than 23 000 people in north-west Syria.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy and security.
Big Catch-Up: WHO and partners support immunization campaign in Syria
Immunization activity in rural Damascus, Syria, 2024. Photo credit: WHO Syria23 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 United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
The first round of activity will involve screening more than 2 million children aged under 5 years across Syria. These children were missed during previous campaigns owing to factors including access and population movements. All the screened children will receive the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV), regardless of their vaccination history.
To achieve this, 7393 health workers from the Ministry of Health – including 4541 vaccinators at fixed sites and 1097 mobile medical teams – will be deployed to 993 health facilities and 70 temporary vaccination posts. To monitor the vaccination activity, 365 supervisors at different levels will check on progress during its implementation.
Further, 1769 communications officers will join the effort, to ensure proactive risk communication and community engagement – crucial to promote vaccination of children. To further encourage vaccine uptake, 1755 mosques and 209 churches will share key messages with communities.
Dr Iman Shankiti, acting WHO Representative to Syria, emphasized the importance of vaccination as a crucial public health strategy. “Vaccination saves millions of lives globally and is among the most cost-effective health interventions available,” she said. “WHO remains dedicated to its mission of ensuring that all children in Syria are protected from vaccine-preventable life-threatening diseases.”
The first round of the Big Catch-Up initiative overlaps with World Immunization Week, which takes place every April. This annual campaign aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. This year’s theme is “Humanly Possible: Saving lives through immunization”.
In 2024, WHO and partners also mark 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). This anniversary highlights the great progress being made to catch up on essential immunization and get back on track to ensure that more people are protected from preventable diseases.
