Health impact of the crisis in the Syrian Arab Republic

The Syria crisis was designated a Grade 3 emergency by WHO and a Level 3 emergency by the IASC in 2013, reflecting the magnitude and scale of the emergency. More than 80 000 people are estimated to have died and a further 400 000 injured as a result of the crisis as of June 2013 [1]. The crisis has affected all 14 governorates in the Syrian Arab Republic, with the United Nations estimating that 6.8 million people were in need of assistance as of August 2013, including 4.25 million internally displaced persons. A Ministry of Health report in July 2013 illustrates the dire state of the public health service capacity in Syria. According to the report, up to 60 per cent of public hospitals have limited or no capacity. In Homs, the health infrastructure has been severely constrained as almost half of the public health centres are no longer operating, a 30 per cent jump since June 2013. In Aleppo, Deir-ez-Zor and Idleb governorates, 70 per cent of health centres are either damaged or out of service. Additionally, fuel and electricity shortages have forced many hospitals to operate at reduced capacity.  There is an acute shortage of transportation for patients with urgent conditions, with 78% of ambulances damaged and 52% out of service. Health personnel are at risk of death, injury or of being kidnapped. Read more...
Source: WHO EMRO Emergency Preparedness and Humanitarian Action - Category: Middle East Health Source Type: news