Rapid escalation in northwest Syria put already fragile health care system under 'immense strain': WHO

The recent and rapid escalation of violence in northern Syria has put an already fragile health care system under "immense strain," the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

"Aleppo, Idlib and Hama are at the forefront of this unfolding crisis, where people are bearing the weight of multiple, compounding emergencies," said WHO acting representative in Syria, Christina Bethke, during a UN briefing in Geneva.

Bethke said 16.7 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, with 14.9 million in need of health services.

She added that northwest Syria is home to 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), with 2 million living in camps under precarious conditions.

Citing WHO Whole of Syria Health Resources and Services Availability Monitoring System (HeRAMS) indications, she said that, prior to the latest crisis, just 58% of hospitals and 36% of primary health care facilities were fully operational.

Right now, nearly 64% of primary and 42% of secondary care health facilities are either partially functioning or nonfunctional, she said, adding that nonfunctioning hospitals have increased from 20.7% in 2023 to 27.3% in 2024.

Since Nov. 27, she said over 30 health facilities supported by cross-border partners in northwest Syria have ceased activities, 33 health facilities managed by humanitarian partners in Aleppo city have stopped operations, and over 40 health facilities in northern Hama governorate have suspended lifesaving and life-sustaining services, while the National Hospital has reached full capacity.

Also, during the same period, WHO has received reports of at least six attacks on health care facilities in Syria, Bethke said.