The Syrian war is in its fourth year – millions of Syrians remain trapped in the country facing a huge humanitarian toll. The scale of death, injury and displacement in the conflict is enormous and the situation has further deteriorated this year. Desperation forces thousands of Syrians to make dangerous journeys across the Mediterranean Sea to reach northern Europe where they seek protection.
August was one of the bloodiest months in the Syrian war since the horrific chemical weapons attack in August 2013. Civilian areas were subjected to Intense bombing killing and wounding over 2,000 people. Local medical teams have treated at least 150 war wounded patients every day and they were forced to perform 400 amputations in August alone while the chokehold on besieged areas constrains supplies and civilians’ free movement.
MSF is critically concerned at the dilemma of massive humanitarian and health needs inside Syria while most parts of the country remain inaccessible due to the scale of violence and the fast evolving nature of the conflict.
Despite these significant constraints, MSF continues to operate medical facilities inside the country as well as supporting more than 150 medical structures throughout the country and has scaled up activities in the neighbouring countries.
To reach people in dire need we have developed in close collaborations with Syrian medical networks. Our support projects run consist of donations of essential medical equipment and relief material, training for staff trapped inside Syria as well as support for ambulance services.
Highlights:
- At the beginning of the year, the United Nations estimated that 220 000 people had been killed in Syria, but other monitoring groups put the death toll much higher
- An estimated 4 million people have fled to other countries with the vast majority fleeing to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan and Iraq
- Hundreds of thousands are living in besieged areas inside the country, with extremely limited access to healthcare
- The conflict in Syria has destroyed what was a previously well-functioning healthcare system.
- Indirect medical humanitarian needs have also arisen including chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, and hypertension) and people can no longer access treatment
- Outbreaks of diseases such as measles are reported have been reported
- MSF continues to operate medical facilities inside Syria and currently supports more than 150 medical structures
Throughout 2015, MSF has scaled up activities in neighbouring countries, but the needs remain enormous. Turkey currently hosts 1.8 million Syrian refugees while Lebanon and Iraq are home to more than 1.2 million Syrians.
Find out more about MSF in Syria