The Ninth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies in Lund September 19-21, 2013

The Ninth Nordic Conference on The Ninth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies in Lund Middle Eastern Studies in Lund

September 19-21, 2013September 19-21, 2013 “Everyday Life in the Middle EastEveryday Life in the Middle East”

The brutal war in Syria: The brutal war in Syria: a human health perspectivea human health perspective

By Dr. Ghassan Shahrour

http://thenordicsociety.se/

The brutal war in Syria: A human health perspective by Dr. Ghassan Shahrour

Feb 23rd, 2013Feb 23rd, 2013 Mar. 19, 2012Mar. 19, 2012

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Devastating Growing numbersDevastating Growing numbers

The brutal war in Syria: A human health perspective by Dr. Ghassan Shahrour 3

• More than 7 million people are in urgent need for humanitarian assistance,

• 6 million people in need of food assistance, The WFP, have reached only 2.4 million.

• More than 5·1 million are internally displaced,

• More than 2 million refugees are residing in neighboring countriesThe brutal war in Syria: A human health

perspective by Dr. Ghassan Shahrour 4


Some characteristics of the Armed Conflict & ConsequencesSome characteristics of the Armed Conflict & Consequences

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• As of May, 37% of all public hospitals in Syria were no longer functioning, and another 20% were damaged and only partly operational.

• 22 Pharmaceutical Factories and 418 public health centers were destroyed.

• About one thousand were jailed or detained.• About half of Syria’s approximately 30 000

physicians have fled the country• (52 Ministry of Health staff and 18 Red Crescent

Society staff have been killed).


Impacts on Health Impacts on Health

• More than 70% of the medical community have fled and most health-care facilities are either damaged or destroyed in opposition areas.

• Outbreaks of measles, typhoid, leishmaniasis, acute diarrhea, and hepatitis.

• Treatment and services for (NCD) chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer are virtually non-existent in opposition districts.

• Medications, and Vaccinations. The brutal war in Syria: A human health perspective by Dr. Ghassan Shahrour


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• Severe lack of access to clean water since they have less than one third of the water supply of pre-crisis levels.

• This is why the outbreaks of hepatitis A and other infectious diseases and hygiene-related diseases have been widely observed in those areas as well as in refugee camps

• a problem with trash removal and water scarcity,

• Limited pesticide spraying• Civilians who flee Syria often

bring numerous unresolved health problems with them.



• Many schools if not damaged, have been widely used as overcrowded shelters, so that more and more students with urgent need for psychosocial support for children with Stress-related mental illness.



((Syrian Refugees are particularly at risk from ERW since there are minefields in many Syrian Refugees are particularly at risk from ERW since there are minefields in many border areas. They are at risk of being killed or injured by ERW left over from border areas. They are at risk of being killed or injured by ERW left over from previous fighting or obscured by rubble – especially childrenprevious fighting or obscured by rubble – especially children)). . UNMAS of 20th February 2013UNMAS of 20th February 2013

More Than 150 Documented CM Attacks in 6 MonthsHRW, March 16, 2013

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ExampleExample

NCDs:

• Before the war, more than 70% of deaths in Syria were due to non-communicable diseases, principally cardiovascular diseases and cancers. The 70 000 documented deaths from the war in the last 2 years represent a 50% increase in total deaths among Syrians over peace time levels,

• Management of NCDs requires monitoring programs, to avoid complications.



Bread Crisis

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Stories

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جهاد الكفري

Moreover, a drug crisis or bomb is growing due to the situation including the lack or no border control, wide scale smuggling as well as the growing challenges in running anti-narcotics programs. . UNODC reports have not reflected the growing drug crisis. No tangible contingency plan was made.



Not only are the people living with a deep fear as a part of everyday life, but they are also living in a real fear of their vague

and unknown future...

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In the past, Syria had been known as haven and In the past, Syria had been known as haven and paradise for many refugees whoever they were; paradise for many refugees whoever they were; Algerians, Armenians, Palestinians, Jordanians, Lebanese Algerians, Armenians, Palestinians, Jordanians, Lebanese or Iraqis.or Iraqis.Now, That Syrian haven and heaven has become hell and Now, That Syrian haven and heaven has become hell and hellfire for its own people.hellfire for its own people.

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The Ninth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies in Lund September 19-21, 2013

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