Syria
In Syria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides vital healthcare to displaced people living in extremely vulnerable conditions. In 2023, we also responded to the devastating earthquakes that shook the country’s northwest.
Latest news from Syria
Updated December 13, 2024
With the recent political developments that led to the fall of the Syrian government, the situation is evolving rapidly. We will need time to assess the situation in order to provide updated information on the conditions and needs of the population. However, we note that the situation in Syria remains dire and that recent developments in northern areas such as Aleppo have displaced thousands of people and that winter conditions will worsen the situation.
For the past decade, MSF has been present in northwest Syria, providing healthcare to local populations through its mobile clinics, hospitals, health facilities and the burns unit that we run in the Atmeh region. MSF also responds to emergencies such as floods and epidemics, such as scabies, through various campaigns in the camps, while responding to mass casualty events.
Since late November 2024, our teams have received a significant number of requests from health authorities and we have made donations, including medical donations, supplies, human resources, and logistical support. Since 29 November 2024, we have donated 34 medical kits to various hospitals and health facilities in the northwest, including trauma and surgical equipment, as well as non-food items and hygiene kits to more than 300 families. We have also donated mattresses, blankets, hygiene kits, and other kits to families who arrived in the Idlib region following the unrest in recent weeks.
Our activities in 2023
million outpatient consultations
families received relief items
routine vaccinations
individual mental health consultations
people admitted to hospital
births assisted, including 2980 caesarean sections
surgical interventions
Northern Syria has been severely affected by nearly 12 years of conflict. The people living in this area, including refugees and displaced people, face daily challenges in accessing essential healthcare and clean water. The declining economy and the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, including water, electricity and oil supplies, in airstrikes aggravated the situation during 2023. The conflict and chronic underfunding have eroded the healthcare system; it remains fragile, and its capacity to respond to persistent outbreaks of communicable diseases is insufficient.
