A patient receives regular physiotherapy sessions in Ariha, Idleb. Photo credit: WHO4 June 2026, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic – Nearly half a million medical consultations were provided in Aleppo, Idleb, Hama, and Homs through funding from Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), helping families access essential health care closer to home at a time when needs remain high across Syria.
KSrelief-supported work by the World Health Organization (WHO) enabled around 475,000 consultations, 260,000 medicine-related services, 51,000 laboratory tests and 35,000 dialysis sessions. The support is helping keep primary health care and life-saving dialysis services available for people affected by conflict, displacement, economic hardship and limited access to care.
The 11-month project, which began in November 2025, is implemented by WHO with Al Ameen Humanitarian Support Association as the implementing partner, in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and local health directorates. It supports an integrated network of primary health care centres and dialysis centres across Aleppo, Idleb, Hama and Homs, helping maintain essential services during Syria’s ongoing health system transition.
The project is designed to support 70 primary health care centres and 10 dialysis centres. At supported health facilities, people can receive free consultations, essential medicines, basic laboratory tests, care for noncommunicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health services, immunization services and referrals when higher-level care is needed.
“Our heartfelt commitment to saving lives and bringing hope to Syrians in need. By providing access to vital healthcare services, including lifesaving treatments like dialysis, we are standing with families as they rebuild their lives and find resilience in the face of ongoing challenges,” said Dr. Abdullah AlMoallem, Director of the Health and Environmental Aid Department at KSrelief. “Together with our partners, we continue to deliver aid where it’s needed most, working hand in hand to empower communities and foster a healthier, brighter future for all.”
“For families returning home and rebuilding their lives, especially those who cannot afford transport, medicines or private care, access to services closer to their place of living could mean the difference between receiving timely treatment and delaying care until a condition becomes more serious,” said Dr Awad Mataria, Acting WHO Representative in Syria. “This support from KSrelief is helping WHO and partners keep essential health services running, reduce preventable illnesses and death and protect continuity of care as Syria moves from emergency response towards longer-term health system rebuilding.”
For people with kidney failure, regular dialysis is not optional. It is lifesaving. By supporting the staffing, supplies and operational costs of dialysis centres, the project helped keep services available for patients who need continuous treatment. To date, around 35,000 dialysis sessions have been provided across supported centres for people from host communities, internally displaced people and returnees, including children under 18, underscoring the need to maintain specialized care for patients of all ages.
The support is also helping protect the health workforce needed to keep services available. A total of 788 medical and non-medical staff were recruited across supported facilities, helping reduce staff shortages, maintain continuity of care and keep health facilities functioning during a period of significant pressure on the health system.
WHO continues to work with the Ministry of Health, local health directorates, KSrelief, Al Ameen Humanitarian Support Association and other partners to keep primary health care and dialysis services available, maintain access to life-saving treatment and support the resilience of health services across Aleppo, Idleb, Hama and Homs.
For media inquiries, please contact:
For WHO: Mrinalini Santhanam, Communications Officer,
For KSrelief: Fanar Alshehri, International Communication Specialist,
About KSrelief:
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) is Saudi Arabia's leading humanitarian organization, dedicated to providing aid and relief to communities affected by crises worldwide. Since its establishment in 2015, KSrelief has implemented numerous projects across various sectors, including health, education, and food security, in over 69 countries.
