WHO delivers emergency medical supplies to Syria

Following a cease fire between the Syrian government and opposition forces, WHO and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent recently delivered up to 15 metric tons of medical supplies to besieged communities in the country, according to a press release.

“These unprecedented deliveries will bring much needed surgical supplies and medical treatments to vulnerable populations in two of the most hard-to-reach and deprived areas in Syria,” Elizabeth Hoff, WHO representative in Syria, said in a press release.

Elizabeth Hoff

Ten metric tons of medical supplies, including antibiotics, sterile gauze, syringes and catheters, as well as medicine for chronic diseases for more than 22,300 civilians, were moved through Damascus to hospitals in eastern Aleppo City. An additional 5 metric tons of supplies were delivered to communities in Mouadamiya in rural Damascus to support 24,000 people in need there. Approximately 50,000 antibiotic and multivitamin treatments, as well as enough chronic disease medicines to last for 2 months, were delivered to Mouadamiya’s health center — the first time medical assistance has reached the area since October 2012, according to WHO.

The humanitarian situation in Aleppo City and Mouadamiya is critical, WHO officials said. Shortages of surgical supplies and medicine have been reported in these communities since the conflict began in 2011. According to Hoff, WHO and partners are negotiating with Syrian health officials to make these deliveries a long-term plan for both regions.

The deliveries were facilitated by a U.N. security resolution, which authorized and eased aid delivery to more than 10.8 million Syrians. In 2014, WHO has delivered medical assistance for more than 7 million Syrians, including those living in opposition-controlled areas.