25 October 2023 – Thirteen-year-old Ahmad was asleep at home in Azmarin, a small village in north-west Syria, when the house began to shake violently in the middle of the night. The deadly earthquakes of 6 February 2023 had begun.

Moments later, the house had collapsed, burying Ahmad, his parents, sister and younger brother under the rubble. By the time rescuers reached the family, only Ahmad and his brother Omar were still alive. The boys were rushed to Al Rahma Hospital in Darkoush, where they were treated for their injuries. Once their health had stabilized, they were taken in by relatives.

The physical scars of the disaster may have healed, but the mental wounds run deep, particularly for Ahmad. He has told doctors he is “overwhelmed with sadness”. Ahmad often returns to visit Azmarin, seemingly still in disbelief over his loss, spending most of his time near the ruins of his former home and at the graves of his family members who perished.

Ahmad is being monitored by health professionals, with the support of the Syrian Expatriate Medical Association, and he receives special care, including protection and rehabilitation services. Doctors fear the devastating impact of the earthquake may have a more substantial impact on his future development.

Like Ahmad and Omar, Abdul-Halim was also living in Azmarin at the time of the earthquake. His story is remarkably similar.

Abdul-Halim was also asleep at home when the earthquake struck, as were most of the people affected by the disaster. The house was reduced to rubble in seconds, burying the young boy and many members of his family, including his parents, 2 sisters, an uncle, and the uncle’s wife and cousin.

A rescue team found Abdul-Halim beneath the rubble right after the earthquake and took him to Al Rahma Hospital for emergency treatment. He was then moved to Azmarin Hospital to continue his rehabilitation, spending nearly 3 weeks there. Abdul-Halim later found out that he and his 12-year-old sister were the sole survivors of the earthquake among their household.

Abdul-Halim is unable to move and is currently bedridden. His sister suffered multiple bruises and a fractured right arm and underwent surgery. The incident also caused significant psychological wounds. Severely traumatized, Abdul-Halim lives in constant fear. This has been most acute during the thousands of aftershocks that have continued to rattle the Eastern Mediterranean Region since the major earthquakes of 6 February.

Abdul-Halim now lives with his grandparents and requires mental and physical support. He also needs financial support to cover the expense of his care, including to meet the cost of his specific dietary requirements.

“Both Ahmad and Abdul-Halim have undergone experiences that most of us cannot even begin to imagine. To lose almost your entire family in minutes is almost impossible to comprehend. It is no wonder that they – and the thousands of other people in Syria who have been similarly affected – are now suffering severe mental health trauma,” said Dr Idris Elrasheed, Acting Head of the WHO Health Emergencies field office presence in Gaziantep, Türkiye, which oversees operations in north-west Syria.

“WHO recognizes that mental health and psychosocial support in earthquake-affected areas is critical and must be strengthened to ensure that those who have suffered can continue to lead healthy and prosperous lives,” stressed Dr Elrasheed.

10 October 2023, Damascus, Syria – To mark World Mental Health Day, WHO and the Syrian Ministry of Health launched a 2-day workshop for media professionals to emphasize this year’s theme, “Mental health is a universal human right.” The activity aims to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health. 

“It’s essential to underscore that mental health is not a luxury; it is a basic human right,” said Dr Iman Shankiti, Acting WHO Representative in Syria. “Regardless of who we are or where we come from, everyone deserves the highest attainable standard of mental health. This not only entails prevention, but also includes access to quality mental health care.” 

Many years of crisis have affected the health and mental well-being of people in Syria. The negative impacts have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, disease outbreaks, the recent earthquake and the country’s ongoing economic challenges. 

WHO has responded with mental health initiatives that have reached more than 922 000 individuals in 2023 alone. Over 197 000 people in earthquake-affected areas have benefited from integrated and specialized consultations at primary health care centres, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services have been provided to more than 161 000 individuals. Moreover, WHO has invested in training over 3000 health and community workers to ensure the sustainability of these essential services. 

To promote a multisectoral approach to services, WHO has also supported the Ministry of Health in developing and rolling out the national mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) strategy. This strategy, which involves numerous partners and stakeholders, clarifies the vision, goals and actions that will guide the phased enhancement of MHPSS services from 2023 to 2027, in line with regional and global frameworks. 

To pave the way for a healthier, more resilient future, WHO emphasizes the critical importance of healing the minds and spirits of everyone in Syria who has been deeply affected by years of turmoil. WHO remains ready to lend its expertise and resources to support this effort.

4 October 2023, Damascus, Syria - The World Health Organization (WHO) recently conducted a regional Green Light Committee (rGLC) mission to Syria, focusing on strengthening Syria's National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP). The mission involved updating the national multi-drug-resistant guidelines and conducting training sessions on new WHO-recommended treatments for both drug-susceptible Tuberculosis (DS-TB) and drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB).

The Syrian conflict has heavily disrupted the health system, leaving thousands of people unable to access TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. Moreover, millions of internally displaced people (IDPs) live in poor conditions, overcrowded and in unsanitary camps and settlements creating conditions that increase the risk of transmission and exacerbate the disease. WHO is collaborating with the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) and other partners to strengthen the NTP and work towards eliminating the disease in the country. The introduction of new diagnostics and treatments, particularly at the subnational level, is a key part of these efforts.

Dr. Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative a.i. in Syria, stressed the need for a comprehensive approach: "Addressing tuberculosis in Syria requires not just advanced diagnostics and treatments, but a shared commitment to improving health services accessibility across all areas of the country – particularly for those most vulnerable and in need."

Both the MOH and WHO, together with other health partners, are committed to implementing the guidelines and recommendations developed during the rGLC mission. The introduction of new diagnostics and treatments, such as all-oral shorter regimens, is expected to improve patient adherence and health outcomes.

Dr. Kenza Bennani, Medical Officer of the WHO Regional TB Program, affirmed, "The novel diagnostics and treatments provide an opportunity to enhance outcomes for TB and drug resistant TB patients in Syria. Ensuring comprehensive access to the novel advanced tools and treatments with sustainable resources and support will lead to further progress in coverage of services for TB along the full-service cascade, including prevention, diagnosis and treatment."