WHO and Qatar Charity sign new agreement to strengthen maternal and child health services in Syria

7 December 2025, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic and Doha, Qatar– The World Health Organization (WHO) and Qatar Charity have signed a US$ 500 000 agreement to expand access to maternal and child health services in Syria, supporting national efforts to sustain lifesaving care and reinforce the resilience of the public health system.  The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, which brings together global partners for critical dialogue on the challenges facing our world and to build innovative, action-driven networks.

[Left to right] Dr Rayana Bou-Haka, WHO Representative in Qatar; Dr. Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, WHO; and Mr. Nawaf Abdullah Al-Hammadi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Programs and Communication, Qatar Charity, at the signing of a new agreement between WHO Syria and Qatar Charity on the sidelines of the Doha Forum in Qatar, 7 December 2025. Photo credit: WHO

The funding will enable the restoration of obstetric, gynaecologic and paediatric services in selected public facilities. It will support the procurement of essential medical supplies, targeted training for frontline health workers, and efforts to improve service readiness in areas with high vulnerability. Implementation will begin in January 2026 and run through the end of the year.

The agreement comes one year into Syria’s transition, as the country moves away from crisis toward recovery and rebuilding. With more families returning to areas where health infrastructure remains under strain, restoring reliable services for women and children is essential to ensuring stability, dignity and safe return.

“Health is the backbone of Syria’s recovery,” said Acting WHO Representative in Syria Christina Bethke. “We welcome this partnership with Qatar Charity to protect essential maternal and child health services and lay the foundation for a resilient public system. This is what a principled and practical humanitarian–development nexus looks like – meeting urgent needs today while building stronger systems for tomorrow.”

The project will be implemented by WHO, in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and local health authorities. It contributes to national priorities to expand equitable access to primary health care, improve quality of care, and invest in the health workforce – particularly in areas affected by conflict and displacement. 

This is Qatar Charity’s first direct contribution to WHO in Syria and marks an important step towards broader collaboration on health service delivery and systems recovery. It also complements regional efforts to strengthen Syria’s health infrastructure and ensure that humanitarian investments support longer-term development goals.

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