Report warns Syria’s health system strained by mass returnees
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria’s fragile health sector is struggling to cope with a mass wave of returnees following the fall of the Assad government, a report by Relief International said on Monday.
The report estimates that nearly 1.4 million Syrians have returned from abroad or internal displacement since late 2024, while only half of hospitals and one-third of primary healthcare centers are fully operational. More than 15,000 doctors — about half of Syria’s pre-war workforce — left during the conflict.
Research conducted between November 2025 and January 2026 found many families returned to areas of “relative physical safety” but lacking services needed to rebuild their lives. In Deir ez-Zor, 78 percent of returnees said healthcare was unavailable. In al-Tibni, 93 percent of households reported needing care in the past six months but being unable to afford it.
Report author Rachel Sider warned that recovery is inseparable from rebuilding healthcare, citing rising psychological distress among women and the near absence of maternal and mental health services.
The findings come as regional backing from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey and the clearing of Syria’s debt to the World Bank have reopened financing channels. Yet aid cuts, high treatment costs and outdated equipment continue to block access.
The report also cautioned against rapid camp closures in Idlib, warning they may force premature returns. Meanwhile, landmines remain a threat, with data from The HALO Trust showing nearly 1,800 deaths since Assad’s fall.