The impact of violence across northwest Syria, combined with reduced donor funding and economic collapse, has meant inadequate and uneven provision of health care for Syrians, particularly women and girls. In response to the violence, providers have been forced to leave or relocate beyond the line of fighting, leaving many unable to reach the care they need. This not only impacts civilian access to services, but also increases demand on the service providers in safer areas, undermining the quality of care. The devastating earthquakes which struck southeast Türkiye and northwest Syria in early February 2023 further limit the already precarious access to health care detailed in this report.
UDER contributed to this research to raise awareness of the ongoing plight of Syrians and to inform policy change. While health actors, including UDER, have worked to fill the gaps in health care provision, the current approach to the crisis in Syria is inadequate. Urgent changes are needed to protect the right to health for populations in northwest Syria and ensure access for those who require medical care.
This report reflects the SRH concerns of those living and working in northwest Syria. It establishes a record upon which policymakers, donors, and health actors, including humanitarian organizations, may rely in addressing the crisis of SRH in northwest Syria. It provides core recommendations for the United Nations Security Council, United Nations member states, donors, health actors, and the coordination architecture.
The report is available in English, Arabic and Turkish.
The Harim PHC Network, coordinated by Relief Experts Association (UDER) and supported by The World Health Organization (WHO) consists of 60 health facilities offering access to services of diverse complexity and according to capacity (in mobile units and primary health centres, among others). As part of the network activities, UDER procures medical equipment needed by 60 health facilities to ensure the availability of resources necessary to provide health services according to the standard protocols. This approach serves towards progressive development of a joint procurement, distribution and monitoring system. Partners supporting these health facilities participates in the technical evaluation of the equipment. After the equipment is delivered to the UDER’s warehouse in NWS, partners are contacted to receive the equipment and deliver them to health facilities. This video shows the equipment distribution process to the UOSSM organization, including checking, loading and paperwork.
WHO, together with the Relief Experts Association (UDER) as implementing agency, has bolstered the provision of primary health care services in northwest Syria by rendering the facilities in the towns of Sarmada, Tarmanin, Daret Azza and Zarzour fully operational.
During the project – supported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and its Syrian Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) – 174,374 medical consultations were provided through the 4 health facilities (132% of the targeted 131,893), including for 98,064 internally displaced persons in the area. A total of 127,276 patients (equating over 159% of the targeted 80,000) were screened for temperature measurements.