Access to healthcare
in SYRIA
Team Aleppo. HL322 International Health Issues; Winter 2017
A short overview on who is the PHR and what role does it play in the war. Source: PHR youtube
Physicians for Human Rights
Originated in 1986, Physicians for Human Rights is an US-based NGO group formed to protect the human rights during times of mass violence and severe human rights violations (Physicians for Human Rights, 2016). The group believes in the power of healthcare professionals and scientists, together, in order to investigate and document the human right abuses faced during these devastating times. PHR specializes in preventing torture, documenting mass atrocities, and holding those who violate the human rights accountable for their actions (Physicians for Human Rights, 2016). They focus on both the physical and psychological effects of torture and sexual violence, the unnecessary and excessive use of force during civil unrest, and the protection of medical institutions and health professionals.
As seen in this Interactive Map both rebel and government forces have been targeting the medical institutions in Syria. Hospitals are becoming less abundant, equipment is scarce, and a significant amount of the medical personnel is left with no choice but to flee the country. The PHR intervened in the Syrian crisis by working with the Syrian American Medical Society to provide training to the Syrian health care providers and human rights activists on identifying, treating, and documenting exposure to chemical weapons (Physicians for Human Rights, 2016).
Effects on Syria
As of December 2014, PHR has documented 224 attacks on 175 different medical facilities. Further, of the remaining public hospitals, less than 50% were fully functioning (Physicians for Human Rights, 2016). Aleppo, Syria's most important city, contains 11 hospitals, each equipped with no more than 70 physicians. These physicians face the challenges of serving roughly 300,000 civilians. In addition, 599 medical personnel have been targeted and killed. The destruction of Aleppo's psychiatric hospital left the country without any mental help (Physicians for Human Rights, 2016). Victims with PTSD and other mental disorders are left untreated. Raqqa, another Syrian town, was not able to provide any pediatric or OB/GYN care as their facilities and personnel have been destroyed and killed. Humanitarian aid workers also face the same challenges as the Syrian medical personnel as they, too, are becoming targets of the war.
Interview with 2 Syrian doctors. Source: Physicians for human rights. 2016. [youtube]