World Health Organization (WHO) Says Funding Shortage To Hinder Health Care Distribution In Northwestern Syria

Sumaira FH Published August 20, 2018 | 04:09 PM

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that the lack of funding threatened its ability to provide health care to civilians in Syria's northwestern provinces,

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th August, 2018) The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that the lack of funding threatened its ability to provide health care to civilians in Syria's northwestern provinces, specifying that it needed some $11 million in order to adequately assist Syrians in need.

"The health situation in northwest Syria is already dire and looks set to deteriorate. If WHO does not receive additional funding, more than two million people caught in the cross-fire may have no access to essential health care services, including life-saving trauma care," WHO Regional Emergencies Director Dr. Michel Thieren said, as quoted in the organization's statement.

He added that over 50 percent of Syria's health care facilities had been "destroyed or forced to close."

The WHO said that it needed $11 million in additional funds in order to provide help to civilians in Syria's Aleppo, Hama, Idleb and Latakia provinces.

According to the organization, the funds would be used to support Primary health care, childhood vaccination, and trauma services; ensure that patients are transferred to hospitals for specialized care; and deliver medicine and equipment to health care facilities.

According to the WHO, internally displaced refugees are vulnerable to communicable diseases because they lack access to health care, safe water and sanitation. Vaccine-preventable diseases are also a threat since many people fail to receive vaccinations.

The WHO claims that a total of 2.1 million people in northwestern Syria, including 1.38 million displaced persons, are in need of health care.

Due to the ongoing civil war in Syrian, which has involved government forces fighting numerous opposition groups and terrorist organizations since 2011, a total of 6.1 million people have been internally displaced, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.