Since May 2023, Un Ponte Per thanks to the project "Life-saving and life-sustaining health assistance to the war-affected population in North East Syria, Phase VII", funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), is implementing a new intervention aimed at providing life-saving health care to the most vulnerable population living in camps for displaced people in North East Syria, in the provinces of Raqqa, Hassakeh and Deir er Zor. Conflict and displacement continue to affect North East Syria, while needs have increased due to the severe economic crisis and water crisis that have hit the country, along with the intensification of Turkish attacks that have hit strategic civilian infrastructure in recent months, leaving more than 1 million people without access to water and energy sources.
The intervention aims to improve - through synergy with the local partner organisation Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC) and the local authorities - the health conditions and save the lives of war-affected people living in the camps by restoring decent living conditions.
The specific objective of this seventh phase is to provide free, safe and free access to primary and emergency health services to the displaced population living in five camps (Al Hol, Areesha, Serekanyed, Mahmoudli and Abu Khashab). The project provides support to the clinics in the camps for one year, enabling them to offer life-saving, primary, reproductive and paediatric health services, as well as providing ambulance transport for patients in emergency situations and implementing health education and prevention programmes.
The first phase (2017 - 2018), launched immediately after the start of the battle to liberate Raqqa, ensured thousands of wounded and trapped civilians in the Daesh stronghold had access to life-saving treatment through direct support to the health system in the north-east of the country. 15 ambulances have been purchased and 2 Trauma Stabilization Points (TSPs) have been established on the outskirts of Raqqa to rescue people before transferring them to the nearest hospitals, thus increasing their chances of survival. In addition, 2 Emergency First Aid Centres were established between Raqqa and the Areesha refugee camp. In parallel, frontline health workers were provided with training in psychological first aid techniques (PFA), handling civilian casualties in conflict zones, decontamination methods in case of chemical attacks and how to behave in mined areas. In the first phase, over 103,000 people were provided with health care.
With the second phase (April-December 2018), the intervention was also extended to the Governorates of Hasakeh and Deir er Zor, with the aim of providing life-saving treatment to 110,000 people through the strengthening of First Aid Centres and the system of mobile health units, to reach the most isolated areas. Training continued for health workersÉ™ on life-saving procedures and trauma care, primary health care protocols, monitoring and administration. Special attention was paid to methodologies for identifying and protecting victims of abuse, violence and discrimination, in order to develop dedicated services.
The third phase (2019 - 2020) involved the strengthening of all previous interventions and the extension of health services provided outside clinics to reach the most vulnerable segments of the population and increase resilience. It also saw greater involvement of local communities in the planning and delivery of services, and the employment of Community Health Workers (CHWs).
The fourth phase (2020 - 2021) aimed to improve the health of the local population through the rehabilitation of services. This work involved over 135,000 people, 58% of whom were women.
The fifth phase (2021 - 2022) improved the population's safe access to quality and comprehensive life-saving care, as well as obstetric, reproductive and specialised health services in response to the Covid-19 emergency. Five local health centres, two mobile units, two public hospitals, as well as a dense network of ambulances (50) of local partner KRC were supported to reach almost 150,000 war-affected people with health services.
The sixth phase (2022-2023) improved existing health services and ensured free, safe and free access to the right to health for the local population, through collaboration with local partners Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC) and Action for Humanity (AFH). In addition to life-saving services, primary, reproductive and paediatric first and second level health services were supported, as well as the improvement of referral and prevention systems.
