Syria
The war in Syria, which began in 2011, has left more than 650,000 people dead.
Close to 70% of the population relies on humanitarian aid. Some 7 million people remain displaced within Syria, while more than 4 million Syrians are living as refugees in other countries. Although some of those displaced Syrians are starting to return home, they will likely need significant humanitarian assistance as the country’s economy and infrastructure recovers.
International Medical Corps has operated in Syria since 2008, first supporting Iraqi refugees and affected local populations, then later expanding our work to respond to the needs of those caught up elsewhere in the conflict.
23.7 million
7 million
16.5 million
Syria Crisis
The war in Syria, which started in March 2011, caused massive loss of civilian lives and damage to infrastructure.
Learn MoreThe Challenges
Collapsed Infrastructure and Services
After 14 years of conflict, essential services, including health, shelter, food, education, water and sanitation, are widely lacking.
Population Displacement
Almost half of Syria’s population have been uprooted from their homes—many of them more than once.
Hunger and Disease
Food insecurity and outbreaks of diseases like cholera threaten lives across the country.
Our Response
Healthcare
The February 2023 earthquakes, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of cholera and other water-borne diseases—compounded by the prolonged conflict—have severely compromised the country’s healthcare system. Many hospitals and clinics have been destroyed, while the remaining health facilities continue to grapple with severe shortages of supplies, equipment and qualified personnel. Deteriorating socioeconomic conditions have further stretched the health system’s capacity, leading to an increase in water-borne diseases, critically worsening the nutritional status of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, and deepening the public health crisis.
Through primary healthcare centers (PHCCs), mobile medical teams (MMTs) and specialized healthcare facilities, we provide free and comprehensive primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services across several governorates, including Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa, Hama, Latakia and Rural Damascus. These facilities are crucial for delivering essential services such as disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, nutrition services and health education.
For example, following the 2023 earthquakes, we deployed additional MMTs to provide primary healthcare services and strengthen health systems in the most affected areas. This proactive response was crucial in mitigating the disaster’s impact on an already affected population.
We ensure that those in need receive referrals to specialized care, and provide essential medical support and supplies to patients with disabilities.
In addition to providing routine care, we strengthen healthcare infrastructure by providing vital medical equipment and supplies—including donating critical equipment to public hospitals and supporting operating theaters—which has helped to improve service delivery in facilities affected by the recent crises.
International Medical Corps remains committed to supporting and enhancing the resilience and sustainability of Syria’s public health system. Through our continued efforts, we aim to build a robust foundation for the ongoing delivery of medical care, ensuring that the health system can withstand current challenges and future crises.
Child Protection (CP), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), and Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
The Syrian crisis has profoundly affected families, exposing them to high levels of violence, psychological distress and safety hazards. Women and children have been particularly affected. To address this, we integrate CP, VAWG prevention and MHPSS into our general healthcare services.
Our activities include extensive mental health programs, psychotherapy, psychiatry services, structured psychotherapy groups for chronic illnesses, recreational and educational initiatives, distribution of dignity kits, parental-skills training, and educational sessions on CP, MHPSS and VAWG prevention. We offer vocational training for women, and educate local community members on the principles of humanitarian work, protection mainstreaming and the referral processes for specialized mental health support.
We provide these services—which are tailored for both men and women and for all age groups—at women’s and girls’ safe spaces, community centers, family centers and MMTs. We have also established a family support program in Hama to provide tailored support to affected families, helping them to better manage stress and strengthen family bonds.
Training and Capacity-Building
International Medical Corps conducts training for frontline health and protection workers. Since 2015, we have conducted technical training sessions and capacity-building activities that have reached more than 4,500 people, helping to foster self-reliance among populations affected by Syria’s crises.
Syrian Refugee Response in Jordan
In Jordan, we provide comprehensive services to Syrian refugees. In the Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps—home to more than 40,000 and 67,000 refugees, respectively—International Medical Corps provides primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, including emergency care, maternal and newborn care, emergency obstetrics, neonatal and postnatal care, pediatric care, dental care and pharmaceutical and diagnostic care.
We also run MHPSS clinics inside and outside the camps, and provide nutrition support and CP and livelihood-support services that benefit refugees and affected host communities throughout Jordan.
Syrian Refugee Response in Lebanon
International Medical Corps provides a comprehensive package of essential services in Lebanon, home to an estimated 1.1 million Syrian refugees. We support a network of more than 50 primary healthcare centers nationwide that offer a wide range of curative and preventive healthcare services through routine physical examinations, including pediatric checkups, growth monitoring, immunizations and reproductive health services, maternal health and family planning.
To improve access among Syrian refugees and affected Lebanese communities, we integrate mental health services into primary healthcare in a culturally sensitive manner.
Our Impact in 2024
Prosthetic Support Helps Hadeel Regain Mobility and Self-Confidence
International Medical Corps provided Hadeel with rehabilitation support, which helped her gradually rebuild her confidence.
READ MOREThe Things We Carry: Stories of Syrian Refugees and What They Took with Them When They Fled Home
Since 2011, when violent civil war erupted in Syria, millions have fled their homes by land and sea in search of safety for themselves and their families. What did they carry with them?
READ MOREFrequently Asked Questions
-
Where have Syrian refugees fled to?
Refugees from Syria are hosted in countries worldwide, but the greatest numbers can be found in Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye.
-
How did the February 2023 earthquakes contribute to the crisis in Syria?
Already dealing with mass displacement, violence and the collapse of basic services, Syrians’ suffering was exacerbated by devastating earthquakes on February 6, 2023. More than 55,000 died in Syria and Türkiye as a result of the quakes, and infrastructure and services—already under immense pressure after years of conflict—were destroyed. Many of the people living in the affected areas had previously been displaced by the conflict, and the disaster only compounded their suffering. International Medical Corps responded immediately to urgent humanitarian needs by providing medical and mental health services, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance in the affected regions.
-
What is the state of Syria’s healthcare system?
Syria’s healthcare system is unable to meet the needs of civilians; nearly one-quarter of the country’s hospitals and one-third of PHCCs are non-functional, while the remaining facilities have limited supplies and expertise. Millions of people need health assistance due to chronic conditions, malnutrition and diseases such as cholera, which have spread rapidly among displaced people who have limited access to safe drinking water. International Medical Corps’ mobile medical teams travel to the country’s rural and hard-to-reach regions to provide essential care and support for communities with the least access to healthcare.
-
How is the crisis in Syria affecting children?
Syrian children have had their childhoods destroyed by the conflict. Though many are now refugees living below the poverty line in countries like Jordan and Lebanon, the children who have remained in Syria are at risk of violence, malnutrition and disease. In fact, more than 650,000 children under 5 are chronically malnourished. Moreover, many have not received an education because they have been displaced or because their schools have been damaged or repurposed in the conflict. Millions of children continue to require humanitarian and protection assistance in 2025.
-
How can I help Syrians?
Your donations help us provide lifesaving care and bring hope to Syrians and people around the world. Give to International Medical Corps today to make a difference.