Syrian Arab Republic

Summary of needs

• After 14 years of conflict, Syria’s health system remains under strain due to overlapping political, economic, security and climate-related pressures, prolonged displacement, and cumulative erosion of institutional capacity. Vulnerabilities persist on a scale, and millions of people continue to require life-saving and life-sustaining health assistance. According to MSNA 2025, 83 per cent of households spent money on health in the past six months, highlighting widespread out-of-pocket expenditure and affordability barriers.
• As of January 2026, the humanitarian situation remains volatile and uneven across northern and eastern governorates (Aleppo, Ar-Raqqa, Deir-ez- Zoir and Al-Hassakeh) and southern governorates (As-Sweida, Dar'a and Quneitra). Displacementaffected areas and areas of return face heightened health risks linked to degraded infrastructure, overcrowding and limited-service availability. Based on HeRAMS 2025, only 57 per cent of hospitals and 30 per cent of primary health care (PHC) centres are fully functional, while the remainder are partially functional or non-functional due to shortages of staff, equipment, medicines and utilities.
• Despite ongoing efforts to integrate disease surveillance under the Ministry of Health, surveillance remains fragmented and heavily partner-dependent. Selective reporting, uneven laboratory capacity and gaps in coverage limit early detection and coordinated response, affecting the timely identification of outbreaks and other public health risks, as reflected in EWARS reporting (January 2026).
• Communicable diseases remain a major public health concern. Recurrent increases AWD/ suspected cholera, measles, influenza-like illness, acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis have been reported in recent years. In 2025, 1,800 AWD-related alerts were investigated through EWARS, with transmission linked to drought, damaged water systems and poor sanitation. Cutaneous leishmaniasis remains endemic, particularly in Aleppo, Idlib and Al-Hassakeh. Vaccination coverage remains suboptimal, with BCG at 84 per cent, DTP1 at 81 per cent, DTP3 at 73 per cent and MCV1 at 74 per cent, with significant disparities between urban and rural or hard-to-reach areas, increasing the risk of outbreak-prone diseases.
• Non-Communicable diseases represent a major burden. According to the Ministry of Health Strategic Plan 2026-2028, NCDs contribute to approximately 70 per cent of mortality. MSNA 2025 indicates that 58 per cent of communities’ report unavailability of medicines for NCD treatment, while 56 per cent report limited availability of mental health services. Diagnostic constraints, treatment interruptions and medicine shortages continue to affect outcomes, including for people living with cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
• Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health needs remain significant. Antenatal care coverage was approximately 62 per cent in 2022, while postnatal care coverage was 43 per cent, reflecting gaps in access to comprehensive reproductive, maternal and newborn services. Persistent shortages of midwives, obstetricians, incubators and functional referral systems undermine safe delivery and neonatal survival, particularly in peripheral and newly accessible areas. Leading causes of child morbidity and mortality include prematurity, birth asphyxia, acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases and malnutrition, as outlined in the MoH Strategic Plan 2026-2028.
• Food insecurity and malnutrition continue to pose serious risks to child health and development. Severe acute malnutrition cases requiring therapeutic feeding persist, while stunting affects 17.1 per cent of children under five, according to SMART 2025. Nutrition services within PHC facilities remain limited, with gaps in screening, growth monitoring and counselling. Infant and young child feeding practices remain inadequate, with only 35 per cent of children continuing breastfeeding until the age of two (SMART, December 2025).
• Mental health needs remain high due to prolonged stress, repeated displacement and exposure to violence. Common conditions include depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, alongside severe mental illnesses. Specialist services are limited, and integration of mental health into PHC remains uneven. MSNA 2025 highlights increasing substance use as a coping mechanism, further straining available services.
• Environmental and injury-related risks further compound health needs. Explosive ordnance contamination continues to pose a grave threat. In 2025, 870 incidents were recorded, resulting in 589 deaths and 1,013 injuries, many involving children (Mine Action sub-sector working group, December 2025). Water scarcity represents an additional public health concern; drought-like conditions in 2025 reportedly the worst in 36 years reduced access to safe water and increased the risk of waterborne and respiratory diseases.
• Access barriers remain widespread. MSNA 2025 indicates that 91 per cent of respondents pay for health services, rising to 95 per cent among returnees, while high medicine costs, transport expenses and long waiting times continue to restrict access. Attacks on health care further undermine service delivery. In 2025, 33 verified attacks on health facilities, transport and logistics sites were recorded, with additional incidents reported in January 2026 (WHO SSA, January 2026).
• Syria’s health workforce density remains critically low. Shortages are particularly acute in family medicine, nursing, midwifery and key specialties. Low remuneration, limited career opportunities and poor working conditions continue to undermine retention, with anecdotal evidence of continued out-migration of trained health professionals, as reflected in the MoH Strategic Plan 2026–2028.
• A total of 27 potential hazards were identified nationwide. Localised instability, intercommunity tensions, climate-related shocks and population movements continue to strain fragile services. In 2025, 11 contingency emergency and response plans were developed. Continued investment in preparedness remains essential as the system absorbs increasing demand with constrained resources (PHSA 2025).