Since the crisis in Syria began over two years ago, 4.25 million Syrians are believed to have been forcibly displaced within the country with over 100,000 deaths caused due to the conflict. In response to the large-scale humanitarian needs, International Medical Corps is providing critical health services within Syria. As more than two million people are confirmed by UNHCR to have fled into neighboring countries, International Medical Corps is also scaling up our operations in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and Iraq to reach Syrians seeking services.
Due to the ongoing violence and uncertainty, many of the Syrian civilians our teams are seeing - especially women and children - are experiencing tremendous anxiety, fear and depression. We are addressing mental health and psychosocial needs in Syria as well as in Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
Despite the challenges to access in Damascus, International Medical Corps is currently providing ongoing services through mobile medical units as well as through supporting existing health care facilities. At static clinics where International Medical Corps provides primary health care services to Iraqi refugees, we are supporting additional nurses and doctors specifically focused on the needs of conflict-affected Syrians. Since April 2012, International Medical Corps has reached more than 115,000 conflict-affected Syrians in and around Damascus with health care, mental health care and psychosocial support, non-food items and critical supplies.
International Medical Corps, which has been working in Lebanon since 2006 and Jordan and Syria since 2007 to support Iraqi refugees and host populations, has also been providing health care and psychosocial services for Syrian refugees through static and mobile clinics in Lebanon (Bekaa and Akkar) and Jordan (Ramtha, Mafraq and Za’atari refugee camp). In addition, we have been providing support to hospitals and clinics in Lebanon and Jordan as they face rising caseloads from the influx of refugees.
Read more on our Syria Crisis Response in Lebanon
Read more on our Syria Crisis Response in Jordan
Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, International Medical Corps’ mission has been consistent: relieve the suffering of those impacted by war, natural disaster, and disease, by delivering vital health care services and sustainable development projects that focus on training. This approach of helping people help themselves is critical to returning devastated populations to self-reliance.
