SYRIA PROGRAMME

SYRIA CONTEXT

Syria remains one of the world’s most complex and protracted humanitarian emergencies. Nearly fourteen years of conflict, compounded by economic collapse, recurrent hostilities, and the February 2023 earthquakes, have devastated infrastructure, disrupted public services, and left millions highly vulnerable. Despite the political transition in late 2024, which brought relative stability to some regions, the country continues to face immense humanitarian challenges as it navigates a fragile period of recovery, reconstruction, and stabilization.

Scale of Humanitarian Need

As of early 2025, approximately 16.5 million people across Syria are in need of humanitarian assistance, representing roughly two-thirds of the population. More than seven million remain internally displaced, while over 4.4 million Syrian refugees continue to reside in neighbouring countries, some cautiously returning amid the new political context. Returns of IDPs and refugees are fragile and uneven, hindered by widespread destruction of housing and infrastructure, limited access to basic services, and persistent safety risks from unexploded ordnance and residual hostilities.

Northwest Syria: Idlib and Aleppo

Northwest Syria continues to host the largest concentration of internally displaced persons. In Idlib and Aleppo governorates, where Dünya Doktorları (DDD) / Médecins du Monde (MdM) Türkiye operates, around 79% of the population are IDPs, most living in overcrowded tented settlements or inadequate rented accommodation. The February 2023 earthquakes severely worsened the humanitarian crisis, affecting an estimated 2.9 million people and displacing more than 300,000. Towns such as Jinderes and Afrin in western Aleppo, and Harim district in Idlib—already hosting large IDP populations—were among the worst hit, with much of Jinderes reduced to rubble. More than 8,000 deaths and 12,000 injuries were recorded, with many additional casualties unaccounted for due to limitations in rescue operations.

By the end of 2024, over 3.5 million of the 5.2 million people in northwest Syria remained displaced, with around 2 million living in camps or informal settlements. Unlike Türkiye, containerized housing options are not available, and new camps established after the earthquakes quickly reached capacity. Living conditions remain extremely poor: overcrowding, exposure to extreme weather, inadequate sanitation, and poor ventilation in shelters all heighten health and protection risks.

Health, WASH, and Protection Challenges

Health services in northwest Syria continue to operate under immense pressure. Hospitals and primary healthcare facilities face severe shortages of medical supplies, equipment, and qualified personnel. Reproductive health services were particularly affected, and millions rely on humanitarian organizations for primary care, sexual and reproductive health, emergency services, and mental health and psychosocial support. The cumulative effect of prolonged conflict, natural disasters, and economic collapse continues to exacerbate unmet health needs.

WASH conditions remain precarious, with unreliable access to safe drinking water and inadequate sanitation. These factors, combined with overcrowded living conditions, have contributed to recurrent outbreaks of cholera, scabies, lice, and other communicable diseases. Vulnerable groups—including women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities—face heightened risks in these environments.

Protection needs are also critical. Gender-based violence, already endemic, has intensified due to displacement, unsafe living conditions, and the absence of civilian security services. Incidents of domestic violence, sexual violence, harassment, child labor, early marriage, and unaccompanied minors have all increased. Socio-cultural barriers and the lack of gender-sensitive policies continue to undermine access to justice and survivor support. Unexploded ordnance and remnants of war remain a persistent threat, impeding safe access to essential services and return to areas of origin.

Economic and Food Security Situation

The overlapping crises of conflict, economic decline, and post-earthquake displacement have placed unbearable pressure on the population. Inflation, unemployment, and the collapse of essential services have pushed poverty to extreme levels, leaving millions unable to meet basic needs. Food insecurity remains widespread, and recurrent droughts and fuel shortages continue to exacerbate vulnerabilities. Without significant scaling up of humanitarian funding and access, mortality, morbidity, and protection risks are likely to increase.

OUR RESPONSE

In this context, DDD / MdM Türkiye continues to provide vital medical, psychosocial, and protection services to affected communities. Our teams operate primary health centers, mobile clinics, and specialized programs to provide essential care directly to displaced populations. Services include primary healthcare, sexual and reproductive health, mental health and psychosocial support, and emergency medical care, complemented by free medicines and hygiene interventions. DDD / MdM Türkiye also works to improve WASH conditions, reduce communicable disease outbreaks, strengthen gender-based violence prevention and response, and support safe shelter and return solutions.

Despite ongoing challenges, DDD / MdM Türkiye remains committed to supporting access to quality health care, improving living conditions for displaced populations, and strengthening community resilience. By responding to urgent needs while laying the groundwork for recovery and stabilization, our programmes aim to uphold the dignity, safety, and well-being of vulnerable communities during this critical period in Syria’s humanitarian landscape.