Summary:
Attacks on healthcare and healthcare workers (HCWs) have been a hallmark of the Syrian conflict in direct contravention of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions. This has led to the deaths of over 920 HCWs, the majority of which are attributed to the Syrian government and its allies, and the forced displacement of thousands of others[1]. Those left behind face a devastated health system which is under-staffed and under-resourced, placing increasing strains on the Syrian healthcare workforce both professionally and personally[2]. Early in the conflict, the provision of aid to those considered opposed to the government was criminalized, contributing to arrests and forced displacement. The situation for Syrian HCWs has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which comes on the back of economic collapse and ongoing violence[3]. In this report, we highlight the challenges which Syrian HCWs who remain in Syria face and prioritise recommendations which can support their safety and their professional lives.
[1] https://phr.org/our-work/resources/medical-personnel-are-targeted-in-syria/
[2] https://conflictandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13031-020-00287-9
[3] https://www.ijidonline.com/article/S1201-9712(20)30308-8/fulltext
