The Syrian conflict started 10 years ago and so far, it has led to more than 500,000 deaths and displaced an estimated 13 million (over half of Syria’s pre-war population). Over 6.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, and 5.6 million are refugees, predominantly in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
As the pandemic poses extraordinary challenges for the whole world, the situation is far worse in Syria -one of the world’s most complex conflict zones. After nearly a decade of war, Syria’s health care system is in a complete mess. With less supplies and trained personnel, medical providers have struggled to meet the needs of millions of displaced Syrians. To make things worse, and despite international condemnation, medical workers have not been spared from the violence. health care facilities have been targeted by military strikes over 500 times since 2011.
Ouarda,
The entire situation in Syria is a tragedy, and much of it can be laid at the feet of the Assad regime. It is, as usual, the people who suffer when this kind of brutal civil war goes on for years and years. And one of the most direct ways that they suffer is through the collapse of their health system. I would have been interested to know a bit more detail about the specific effects that this is having, especially now that they are also struggling with the COVID virus. –Professor Wallerstein