Thirteen years have passed since the beginning of the Syrian crisis. What has long been considered the region's main humanitarian emergency is now seeing a crisis in funding and international support from humanitarian actors, who remain on the ground amidst many difficulties in addressing the needs of a population that remains in need of support, healthcare, and development.

This is also the case in the north-east area of Syria, where Un Ponte Per has been working tirelessly since 2015, thanks to the support of international donors such as the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), and thanks to the work of its local partners, including the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC). Here, there are still numerous camps housing people who have been displaced since the beginning of the fighting in the country, and due to repeated offensives launched by Turkey over the years. Often established as informal settlements in remote areas of the country, difficult to reach and far from the main cities, over time they have become camps that are now supported by non-governmental organisations to ensure access to health, education and protection for the displaced population.

These include the Abo Khashab camp, established in 2017 in the Deir Ez-Zor area, which now houses more than 10,000 people who have fled both the Syrian conflict and Turkish incursions into the area. Established as an informal settlement, it was soon joined by humanitarian actors, including Un Ponte Per, in an attempt to build a system of basic humanitarian support and assistance. Here, the majority of the people sheltered are women, and 70% are minors.

Thanks to ECHO's support, Un Ponte Per and KRC were able to build a stable clinic in the camp, which is now able to handle emergencies 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, and is equipped with an ambulance system capable of reaching the nearest hospitals. Equipped with all the necessary equipment, and stocked with medicines that are distributed free of charge, the clinic provides care for chronic diseases and internal medicine services, but has also focused on women and children: gynaecology and paediatrics services (including child malnutrition screening) are provided free of charge, and emergency cases such as recurring outbreaks of leishmaniasis are handled.

"In these years of work in Abo Khashab camp, we have met so many stories and so many people," says Maria Toran Carpio, Project Manager of the project "Life-saving and life-sustaining health assistance to the war-affected population in NES", supported by ECHO and now in its seventh year. "Like Yazi, a very courageous displaced woman who has been a great inspiration to us all.A year ago, she faced serious health problems," says Maria. "Although her condition was really very complex, the KRC team managed to support her in an extraordinary way. Recognising the seriousness of the situation early on, the team managed to direct her to the most appropriate specialist medical facility, where she was accompanied towards recovery.Today, her condition has improved a lot, she continues to refer to our clinic and staff in the camp where she is monitored weekly," he explains.

A happy ending is also what we managed to secure for Yassin, a 10-year-old girl who suffered very severe burns on 75 per cent of her body from an accident. In this case too, it was the KRC team, together with Un Ponte Per, that tried to find the best solution to ensure she received the specialist care she needed. "Yassin underwent several surgeries," Toran Carpio recalls, "and the dedication of the medical team in Abo Khashab, in cooperation with the local hospitals, was unparalleled. A month ago, she was finally able to return to school, resuming her path of study and growth.Her story reminds us how crucial it is to continue to stand by the Syrian people and not forget them'.

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