This development comes 11 months after the end of the devastating civil war in the country with the overthrow of the Assad regime at the hands of opposition forces loyal to the new president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa.
Today, as Syrians return home in increasing numbers, the torn country faces chronic shortages of inward investment, medicine, energy and equipment.
According to the World Health Organization, only 58% of hospitals and 23% of primary health care centers are fully operational today.
“Services on the ground remain very fragile… and health needs continue to rise.” The representative of the United Nations agency in Syria, Dr. Christina Bethke, warned.
She said that since mid-year, more than 400 health facilities have been affected by the interruption of funding, and 366 facilities have suspended or reduced their services.
The World Health Organization says a total of 7.4 million people have seen their access to medicines and treatment reduced.
In just two months, this prevented 122,000 trauma consultations and resulted in 13,700 births being performed without a skilled birth attendant.
“We continue to see a shortage of healthcare workers, and the conditions that enable the return of these skilled health professionals are still not necessarily there,” Dr. Bethke told reporters in Geneva via video from Damascus.
More than a million head of house
The latest United Nations data indicates that more than 1.16 million Syrians have returned to their country since the fall of the Assad regime.
The lack of available healthcare is a major factor discouraging more people from returning to their homes, in addition to the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure, insufficient jobs, and the continuing volatile security situation.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than seven million Syrians are still displaced within their country, and more than 4.5 million still live abroad.
“Most people prefer to return with their families, so if you are thinking about returning to your beloved Syria, you will want to know that there is a school there, that there is shelter there, that you have electricity and communications, and that you have water,” explained Dr. Bethke from the World Health Organization.
Imminent flashpoints
In northeastern Syria, Al-Hasakah National Hospital may run out of donor support next month.
It is the only comprehensive public hospital for more than 300,000 people. If funding fails, key services that will suffer are likely to include the ambulance and referral system, along with 24-hour primary care in many camps.
“We have also received reports from partners this week that support to Al-Kasra General Hospital in Deir Ez-Zor has been suspended, forcing most departments to halt operations, with only dialysis and physiotherapy continuing – impacting over 700,000 people,” Dr Bethke added.
To maintain health care in Syria, the United Nations and its health partners need $565.5 million.
Only about 20 percent of this amount has been received. Of the $141.5 million the WHO needs this year for its work and the work of its partners, $77 million remains unfunded, as of last month.
“Without predictable, multi-year support, the health system could collapse when recovery is within reach,” Dr. Bethke insisted.
