
Syria
Syria remains the country with the biggest number of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the world (6.7 million as of March 2021), most of whom have been displaced repeatedly and who live in precarious conditions. The continued conflict has devastated the health system. In northern Syria, many health facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the fighting, and others have often had to reduce services significantly.
We operate in Syria where we can, but ongoing insecurity and access constraints severely limit our ability to provide humanitarian assistance that matches the needs. Our repeated requests for permission to operate in areas controlled by the Syrian Government have not been granted.
We therefore only work where access could be negotiated, such as northwest and northeast Syria, which are under the control of other actors. There, we run and support hospitals and health centres, and provide healthcare through mobile clinics as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services in displacement camps.
Our teams are currently responding to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

MSF activities in Idlib, northwest Syria
MSF activities in Idlib, northwest Syria
The governorate of Idlib currently hosts hundreds of thousands displaced Syrians. Many are living in informal camps that lack almost all services and are seriously overcrowded. Our mobile clinics visit some of these camps on a weekly basis, to provide essential medical services such as vaccinations and general healthcare consultations. We also conduct water and sanitation activities to improve the living conditions in the camps, and organise distributions of essential relief items.
Why are we here?


We see pregnant women suffering from malnutrition, children suffering from contagious diseases, people with chronic diseases and people suffering from skin conditions. Supporting hospitals, basic healthcare centres and mobile clinics in displacement camps are also a central part of our response. Due to the poor living conditions in the region, injuries from domestic accidents are also frequent: we run a specialised surgical burns’ unit in northwest Syria to respond to this type of injury.
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What used to be a functional health system in Syria has been devastated by the conflict. Hundreds of medical facilities have been bombed, medical staff have been killed, detained or have fled, and supplies are lacking. Syrian health staff have been forced to improvise operating theatres and work in deplorable conditions, overwhelmed by emergencies. Over the past decade, we have not only dealt with mass casualties and acute emergencies but also the resurgence of preventable diseases.


An estimated 6.7 million people remain internally displaced in Syria. Most people who have fled violence live in camps, improvised shelters or with host families. The decade of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe economic crisis have further aggravated their vulnerability. Most people living in displacement camps have suffered from repeated displacement. Many suffer poor living conditions, psychological trauma and a lack of access to medical care. In some of these camps, we provide healthcare and mental health support through mobile clinics as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.


As the conflict escalated in the early years of the Syrian war, so did the crackdown on medical assistance for people in areas that were not under the control of the Syrian Government. In areas we can’t access, we have tried to maintain a system of distance support to medical facilities and networks of medics. Over the years, we supported underground medical networks.


Given the volatility of the Syrian context, our teams are ready to respond to various emergencies, from mass casualties to displacement and outbreaks. Throughout the years, we have diversified our activities in the country, from trauma care, vaccination campaigns, maternity care and mental health support.
Our activities in 2021 in Syria
Data and information from the International Activity Report 2021.
548
548
32.5 M€
32.5M
2009
2009


1,144,500
1,144,5
130,200
130,2
60,300
60,3

43,900
43,9
18,100
18,1
12,200
12,2

3,450
3,45
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Reports and Analysis

Report documents war wounded and war dead in MSF-supported medical facilities in Syria

MSF reports show more assistance is needed to meet healthcare needs

Explosive devices have deadly impact on people fleeing or returning home

Changes in medical practice in Syria

Review of attack on Al Quds Hospital Aleppo City

Our bombs are smarter than yours

Aleppo’s reality - Daily life under barrel bombs

Aleppo: Medical Aid Besieged
