We are offering support to Syrian IDP families fleeing the war through the provision of medicines and hygiene kits, and equipping health centres managed by our local partners, the Kurdish Red Crescent (Heyva Sor a Kurd): these are the main objectives of the “Safe” project currently underway in the predominantly Kurdish areas of northeast Syria.

Thanks to funding provided by the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICS), the charitable wing of the Waldensian Table and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, we can guarantee regular heath care to thousands of civilians who would otherwise not receive adequate assistance.

Since its launch in July 2016, the first phase has included the distribution of medicine and first aid kits, and the funding and equipping of 4 clinics (in Derik, Amude, Serikaniye and Qamishlo).

In just 6 months, we have ensured free access to healthcare including internal medicine, paediatrics and reproductive health and we have equipped pharmaceutical dispensaries in all the clinics, provided treatment for leishmaniasis and cancer, and healthcare for transfusion and transplant patients. We have organised 3 humanitarian aid deliveries, each of which contained enough to cover the medical needs of 40,000 people; we also distributed health and hygiene kits to 600 families.

Meanwhile, we laid the foundations for a long-term training programme for Kurdish Red Crescent health workers, on administration and management  and on socio-psychological assistance.

The project’s second phase began in May 2017, with the expansion of project work across the country.

In addition to the original 4 clinics, another two health centres were set up in order to reinforce paediatric and reproductive health services: as always, our focus was the most vulnerable members of the community who risk paying the highest price of war and displacement, like women and children who require special attention and specific assistance plans.

In addition, the programme has been expanded to include Raqqa IDPs, by equipping the Serekanye Clinic (Ras el Ein) with an ambulance system covering the IDP camps.

The main objective is to assist the more than 88,000 Syrian IDPs, without forgetting Iraqi refugees who have crossed the border while fleeing Mosul.  At least 100 people including Kurdish Red Crescent staff members will receive specialised training on issues including reproductive health, prevention of gender-based violence and capacity-building.