Damascus, Syria – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned Monday that Syria’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse due to ongoing internal displacement and rising food insecurity.
In a new report, OCHA warned of a deteriorating health system in Syria due to funding gaps and low preparedness, emphasizing the importance of sustained support and greater investment in healthcare are essential.
The report stressed that Syria’s health sector remains heavily dependent on international aid, with limited governmental support creating serious imbalances in emergency response and medical supply chains.
Humanitarian coordination and equitable service distribution are both in decline, the report noted, with risks growing in southern regions such as Daraa and Suwayda.
The readiness of medical facilities was described as weak, with institutional resilience and funding indicators deteriorating significantly. OCHA also highlighted a marked decrease in civil society engagement, especially in northeastern areas.
Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported the displacement of over 170,000 people in southern Syria.
Read more: UN Says Over 170,000 Displaced in Southern Syria
Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, the UNHCR representative in Syria, said in a post on X that approximately 176,000 people had been displaced from Suwayda, Daraa, and Rural Damascus.
“Together with other UN Agencies, UNHCR in Syria has been able to assess the emergency situation in Dar’a and rural Damascus, where conditions are dire.,” Llosa wrote.
He added that UNHCR is scaling up support by distributing emergency kits, providing protection services, and offering psychological and child support to those affected.
So far, emergency aid has reached 3,570 displaced individuals, with an additional 4,500 emergency kits delivered across the affected governorates.
Llosa concluded by emphasizing the continued presence of UNHCR in Suwayda and reiterated the urgent need for safe humanitarian access to save lives.
