10 things you should know about the Syrian crisis

WHO has made important strides in its work during the Syrian crisis. A successful negotiation led to the evacuation of patients in critical condition from east Aleppo. Thousands more, fleeing besieged areas, received health care from mobile clinics. As the crisis continues, WHO's work in Syria remains crucial.

In 2016...

More than 10 million medical treatments were delivered throughout Syria in 2016, through both cross-line deliveries from Damascus and cross-border deliveries from Gaziantep (Turkey) and Amman (Jordan). More than one third of the supplies required for these treatments were delivered to hard-to-reach, opposition-controlled, and besieged areas.

Wounded and critically ill patients were successfully evacuated from besieged areas including east Aleppo, Foah and Madaya. WHO played a key role in the negotiations and in planning and overseeing the evacuations to parts of Syria and Turkey. During evacuations from east Aleppo, for example, the Organization ensured that 811 people safely reached hospitals. A further 31 500 health care consultations were provided to people fleeing east Aleppo through WHO-supported mobile clinics.

More than 16 000 health workers received training on a range of topics including health assessments, trauma care, case management for specific diseases, mental health, nutrition, immunization and other topics. When WHO could not enter besieged east Aleppo to provide training to first responders (eg. nurses and paramedics), the Organization instead delivered training via telephone and video conferencing. More than 300 Syrian doctors and nurses were also trained in Turkey to provide health care to Syrian refugees in Turkish camps.

Life-saving care was provided to people suffering from non-communicable diseases – like diabetes, kidney failure and mental illness. Thirteen-year- old Luma, for example, received haemodialysis treatment at a WHO-supported health centre in northern Aleppo. In just the third quarter of 2016 alone, WHO supported more than 11 500 dialysis sessions.

Millions of children across the country were vaccinated against deadly diseases including hepatitis B, measles, rubella and the flu. WHO trained over 6 000 people on immunization and, together with UNICEF, worked to vaccinate 2.6 million children against polio.

However, in 2017...

Almost 13 million people are currently in need of medical services. In 2016, 30 000 people were injured every month and required trauma care. At the same time, it's essential that children receive vaccinations to prevent disease, mothers continue to give birth, and others suffer from mental illness or chronic diseases: these are just a few examples of the millions in need of health care.

Attacks on health occur in Syria with alarming frequency. Hundreds of health workers, patients and bystanders were reported to be killed during attacks on health in the last year. At various stages in the conflict, major population centres, such as Aleppo, have been without functioning hospitals.

Conditions are ripe for outbreaks of infectious diseases. As people flee the conflict, they are often forced to take shelter in close proximity with many other people. Access to clean water and adequate sanitation can be difficult.

Access to some parts of the country is extremely challenging. Fifteen locations in Syria are classified as besieged, home to more than 700 000 people. Attempts to deliver aid to these areas are sometimes obstructed or delayed. Medicines have been removed from interagency convoys travelling to besieged and hard-to-reach areas.

Resources are stretched to the limit. WHO received just a third of the funding necessary to carry out planned humanitarian response activities in 2016. In 2017, the Organization requires US$ 164 million.