The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning that the healthcare system in northwest Syria has been severely disrupted after 13 years of conflict and natural disasters.
This crisis is compounded by the cessation of support to numerous health facilities.
According to media reports, Rosa Crestani, head of the WHO office in Gaziantep, Turkey, stated that 80% of the 5.1 million residents in northwest Syria require health assistance.
Additionally, one in five individuals is experiencing mental health disorders.
Crestani highlighted that both communicable and non-communicable diseases continue to pose significant threats to the population, causing up to 75% of deaths in the region.
Diseases such as cholera and measles, which were previously rare, have seen outbreaks.
Nearly one-third of the health facilities in northwest Syria are non-operational due to a substantial decrease in healthcare workforce since the escalation of the conflict.
This has led to the displacement of a large number of medical staff.
The WHO official also emphasized that the lack of funding will disrupt life-saving treatments for patients, potentially leading to disabilities and even deaths within the next six months.
This situation underscores the dire need for renewed support and resources to address the healthcare crisis in northwest Syria, ensuring that essential medical services can be restored and maintained for the affected population.
