Updated: 23 May 2013
The conflict in Syria is extremely intense. Frontlines continue to shift. The medical system is reduced to tatters. An estimated 6.8 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria and in the neighbouring countries. And people in enclaves are cut off from assistance.
Despite the very real challenges of operating in the country, MSF is now running five hospitals inside Syria and is increasing mobile clinic activities around some of these hospitals. Simultaneously, MSF is actively seeking to open new projects where it is safe to do so.
MSF is using only private donations for its work in Syria in order to remain entirely independent of all political positioning around the crisis.
MSF is also working or supporting projects in the neighbouring countries: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey where some 1.5 million Syrians have fled. These countries have been overwhelmed by the influx of refugees and the humanitarian response has so far been unable to meet their needs.