Following 11 years of war, a record 14.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in Syria. It is the country with the largest number of internally displaced people in the world, with 6.9 million IDPs, most of whom are women and children. Many have been displaced repeatedly and live in precarious conditions.
MSF operates in Syria where we can, but ongoing insecurity and access constraints continue to severely limit our ability to provide humanitarian assistance that matches the scale of the needs. Our repeated requests for permission to operate in areas controlled by the Syrian Government have not been granted.
In areas where access could be negotiated, such as northwest and northeast Syria, we run and support hospitals and health centres, and we provide healthcare through mobile clinics.
Our teams in northwest Syria are currently responding to the earthquakes.
Why are we here?
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![MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/x6vc1cbpx5p1661rod7mbbi5571iasnb.jpg)
We see people in the camps suffering from poor living conditions and an overall lack of humanitarian assistance, mental health support or access to vaccinations. Supporting hospitals, basic healthcare centres and mobile clinics in displacement camps are also a central part of our response. Due to the poor living conditions in the region, injuries from domestic accidents are also frequent. We run a specialised surgical burns unit in northwest Syria to respond to such injuries.
Learn more![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
![East Aleppo East Aleppo](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/oa04gxy75u8745fn2h663l3gs345o652.jpg)
What used to be a functional health system in Syria has been devastated by the conflict. Hundreds of medical facilities have been bombed, medical staff have been killed, detained or have fled, and supplies are lacking. Syrian health staff have been forced to improvise operating theatres and work in deplorable conditions, overwhelmed by emergencies. Over the past decade, we have not only dealt with mass casualties and acute emergencies but also the resurgence of preventable diseases.
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
![Idlib, a crowded IDP camp Idlib, a crowded IDP camp](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/3aob715nkjslvg1ji2giu6rx15okd1si.jpg)
An estimated 6.9 million people remain internally displaced in Syria. Most people who have fled violence live in camps, improvised shelters or with host families. The 11 years of conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe economic crisis have further aggravated their vulnerability. Most people living in displacement camps have suffered from repeated displacement. Many suffer poor living conditions, psychological trauma and a lack of access to medical care. In some of these camps, we provide healthcare and mental health support through mobile clinics as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
![Syria - Aleppo province MSF hospital Syria - Aleppo province MSF hospital](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/wb28s57t8t786n1o2mspskh4n77clg7y.jpg)
As the conflict escalated in the early years of the Syrian war, so did the crackdown on medical assistance for people in areas that were not under the control of the Syrian Government. In areas we can’t access, we have tried to maintain a system of distance support to medical facilities and networks of medics. Over the years, we supported underground medical networks.
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
![REPORT: Living conditions of IDPs in Idlib governorate, Syrie (ENG) REPORT: Living conditions of IDPs in Idlib governorate, Syrie (ENG)](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/TR3/d/f/1/6/MSF235331.jpg)
Given the volatility of the Syrian context, our teams are ready to respond to various emergencies, from mass casualties to displacement and outbreaks. Throughout the years, we have diversified our activities in the country, from trauma care, vaccination campaigns, maternity care and mental health support.
Our activities in 2023 in Syria
Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.
849
849
€49.2 M
49.2M
2009
2009
![Syria IAR map 2023 Syria IAR map 2023](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/48fdgf0wubtr1f3xqcb3m12e28g3n2iu.jpg)
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
1,191,600
1,191,6
65,500
65,5
40,200
40,2
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
32,600
32,6
29,600
29,6
13,600
13,6
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/bg-transparent.png)
8,370
8,37
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/placeholder.jpg)
Syrian Exodus: The Syrian exodus reaches Athens
![Syrian Exodus Syrian Exodus](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/c/9/a/f/MSF139695.jpg)
Syrian Exodus: Syrians torn between East and West
![Syrian Exodus Syrian Exodus](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/8/0/b/4/MSF139692.jpg)
Syrian Exodus: Carrying the weight of the war
![Syrian Exodus Syrian Exodus](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/0/b/7/a/MSF136559.jpg)
Syrian Exodus: "The day my village was bombed"
![](/themes/custom/msf_theme/src/kss/components/image/assets/placeholder.jpg)
From birth to death - Testimony of an MSF surgeon
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Testimony of a Syrian doctor
![MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/5nh5k36k311276e0232pxm5w8g5u583n.jpg)
Diabetes, shrapnel wounds and newborn twins
![Lebanon -Providing medical care to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley Lebanon -Providing medical care to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/1234v63l0644ugsos6g8c2170ya5v4ba.jpg)
“We are not tourists – we are people fleeing a war”
![Transit camp in Aleppo province Transit camp in Aleppo province](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/b/c/7/c/MSF135810.jpg)
Measles epidemic signals growing humanitarian needs
Reports and Analysis
![Al-Hol camp Al-Hol camp](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/40km7our2fhj57vv28t0yuyqw7430166.jpg)
Between two fires: Danger and desperation in Syria’s Al-Hol camp
![MSF-supported hospital in northern Syria destroyed in attack MSF-supported hospital in northern Syria destroyed in attack](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/66p0iar05bx20ri7yr88k88n036f0tlj.jpg)
Report documents war wounded and war dead in MSF-supported medical facilities in Syria
![Humanitarian assistance in East Daraa, Syria](/sites/default/files/styles/card_half/public/images/syria-20-12-2017.jpg?itok=VJedvCFR)
MSF reports show more assistance is needed to meet healthcare needs
![North Syria, Jan 2017 North Syria, Jan 2017](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/e80860ng080i66s0goxmu2x57217a620.jpg)
Explosive devices have deadly impact on people fleeing or returning home
![Damage in Al-Bayan hospital Damage in Al-Bayan hospital](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/ekf0320hpbli7785vud6lx0iprj3ms66.jpg)
Changes in medical practice in Syria
![AL QUDS ALEPPO HOSPITAL, ATTACK HOSPITAL AL QUDS ALEPPO HOSPITAL, ATTACK HOSPITAL](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/CMS3/e/b/d/c/MSF166455.jpg)
Review of attack on Al Quds Hospital Aleppo City
![MSF-supported hospital in northern Syria destroyed in attack MSF-supported hospital in northern Syria destroyed in attack](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/f4w4qc53648d51o125d3410jeb222sls.jpg)
Our bombs are smarter than yours
![East Aleppo East Aleppo](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/f1ab48k82tk8r0jwj36qag17ygmj46an.jpg)
Aleppo’s reality - Daily life under barrel bombs
![MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA MSF HOSPITAL, IDLIB Region, SYRIA](https://img.msf.org/AssetLink/cr7u8ia20uah6d4muq5nx1xdcja44i5o.jpg)
Aleppo: Medical Aid Besieged
![Syria, screen capture patients temoignage, MSF. Syria, screen capture patients temoignage, MSF.](https://img.msf.org/Docs/MSF/Media/TR3/e/8/c/2/MSF111766.jpg)