Washington Post: Suspension of US aid threatens collapse of Syria's health system

The Washington Post reported that the suspension of US foreign aid threatens to exacerbate the health crisis in Syria, where the health system has become fragile after years of war and relies heavily on the support of non-governmental organizations, especially those funded by the United States and Europe.

According to the report, Washington's freeze on aid—following the closure of the US Agency for International Development during the Trump administration—directly impacted funding for vital projects in northern Syria, where millions of displaced people live.

The newspaper quoted Michèle Colombal, an official with the French organization Mihad, which runs more than 20 health centers in northern Syria, as saying that the US cuts and the decline in European support have had a "catastrophic impact," leading to the closure of clinics and the interruption of essential services, especially for mothers and children.

172 medical facilities in Syria are at risk of closure, potentially depriving more than 4 million people of vital services, including maternal care, trauma care, and chronic diseases. Twenty-three facilities have already closed, while 68 others face the same fate, according to a bulletin issued by the World Health Organization's health cluster.

ANHA