Vaccination governance in protracted conflict settings: the case of northwest Syria
Immunisation services are essential for any health system to ensure protection against major transmissible diseases. Armed conflicts often influence the availability, quality, accessibility, and uptake of vaccination services, which can lead to the emergence of outbreaks and epidemics [1, 2]. The restoration of regular immunisation services in emergency contexts has not been extensively studied, and protracted […]
AI in conflict zones: the potential to revitalise healthcare in Syria and beyond
The global health landscape, particularly in conflict-affected areas, faces multiple crises marked by severe healthcare worker (HCWs) shortages and misallocations. For example, in Syria, tens of thousands of HCWs have been forced to leave Syria due to more than a decade of conflict.1 A 2019 World Bank and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report […]
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in conflict-affected areas in Northeast Syria: A cross-sectional study
In regions affected by conflict, the effects on the healthcare system can be far-reaching and devastating. This is particularly evident in northeastern Syria (NES), a home to an estimated 2.4 to 4 million people. The region has been profoundly affected by the Syrian conflict, the rise and eventual decline of ISIS, and continuing internal strife. […]
Health information management systems and practices in conflict-affected settings: the case of northwest Syria
Reliable health information is a critical requirement for the management of health systems [1,2,3]. Effective healthcare provision depends largely on timely and reliable health information, especially in the context of public health emergencies and early recovery settings [1,2,3]. Health information systems enable the collection, storage, analysis, and dissemination of health-related data to support decision-making and […]
Demographics and risk factors for suicide in Syria: A retrospective media content analysis of online news sources
Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Syrians have faced violence and displacement causing an increase in mental health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 earthquake, and deteriorating living conditions have exacerbated these issues. Suicide in Syria remains an under-researched topic since accurate data are difficult to obtain. In this study, we aimed […]
Pandemic governance and community mobilization in conflict: a case study of Idlib, Syria
The city of Idlib is the capital of the Idlib Governorate in Northwest Syria, located about 60 km north of Aleppo. It is the last stronghold for opposition forces engaged in over a decade of conflict with the Assad regime. The city has been subjected to aerial bombardment and chemical weapons attacks, while more than […]
Health system governance assessment in protracted crisis settings: Northwest Syria
Since the withdrawal of government forces from Northwest Syria due to the conflict, several national initiatives have aimed to create alternative governance approaches to replace the central governmental system. One of the recent initiatives was the formulation of so-called ‘Central Bodies’ as institutional governance structures responsible for thematic planning and service provision; for example, the […]
Health aid displacement during a decade of conflict (2011–19) in Syria: an exploratory analysis
Syria has been in continuous conflict since 2011, resulting in more than 874,000 deaths and 13.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees. The health and humanitarian sectors have been severely affected by the protracted, complex conflict and have relied heavily on donor aid in the last decade. This study examines the extent and implications […]
Impact of armed conflict on health professionals’ education and training in Syria: a systematic review
Objectives To provide an overview of the holistic impact of the armed conflict on medical education and health professionals’ training (MEHPT) in Syria. Setting Syria is a country which underwent an armed conflict for 10 years and suffered from the weaponisation of health. Methods A mixed-methods systematic review including quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and textual literature […]
Health system recovery in Northwest Syria–challenges and operationalization
The demonstrations in Syria in 2011 became an uncompromising conflict that divided the country into three main areas of control: governmental areas, northeast Syria, and Northwest Syria. A series of United Nations resolutions adopted in 2014 authorizing official cross-border humanitarian aid in opposition-held areas to allow humanitarian agencies and organizations to use routes across the […]