Hospital staff put their fears aside to help earthquake survivors in Syria

When the devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria last year, Abeer fell to the ground, had a painful accident and feared for her unborn baby. Months later, she is in a maternity ward cradling her newborn daughter at a camp hospital in northwest Syria. Both mother and baby are doing well, thanks to your donations and the incredible hospital staff who put their patients first despite being personally affected by the disaster.

We were scared coming to work and leaving our homes and families behind

Many staff at the hospital volunteered their time for free to help patients, putting aside their own fears to care for those in urgent need of help. Haneen, Chief of Nursing, describes the challenges they face providing health services for the 85,000 or so people living in 50 local camps.

“First there was the psychological impact because we were scared. Then there was an increase in cases of diseases because people had to leave their homes and live in camps. There has been an increase in the number of people coming to the hospital and asking for support and medicines,” she says.

The hospital is supported by Violet, the local partner of DEC charity ActionAid, with DEC funds covering the cost of the emergency department and maternity and neonatal wards. These services are critical. Around 84% of the population in northwest Syria, approximately four million people, need health assistance after years of conflict have devastated the region’s health infrastructure. Another 67 health facilities were damaged in the February 2023 earthquakes, further exacerbating the health crisis and leaving over two million women and girls of reproductive age at risk.

If there wasn’t a hospital here mums would have to travel a long way

“If there wasn’t a hospital here mums would have to travel a long way which can cost a lot and be very tiring. Most of the treatment we provide is for gynaecological issues. Some problems are considered simple like anaemia, but they upsets their daily life.. others are more serious like pre-eclampsia which can be very dangerous,” says Nurse Haneen.

The hospital building survived the earthquake but it needed urgent funds to remain operational and cope with additional demands. “Before Violet started working here, we were really struggling with capacity and supplies. There weren’t enough staff or supplies. Now the funds are spent running the many wards, covering the day-to-day costs of equipment, hospital maintenance and also the pharmacy and analysis laboratory,” adds Haneen.

Donations to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal mean the hospital can continue to provide medical services focusing on women and children, including reproductive health, vaginal childbirth and caesarean sections. It also has operating rooms, an ambulance department, an incubator department, a medical analysis laboratory, a pharmacy, outpatient clinics and an intensive care department. The incredible medical team includes gynaecologists, paediatricians, midwives, nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists.

They treated me like family

Fortunately for Abeer, the hospital had the equipment and expertise to ensure a safe delivery. “The birth was easy and the staff were excellent and so friendly,” says Abeer. “My daughter has been given a full examination and is in the incubator under the supervision of the doctors. I welcome the fact that there are so many female staff at the hospital.”

In the first six months after the earthquake, over 5,000 women and girls displaced by the disaster received urgent medical care from the team of dedicated staff, and thanks to DEC funds, this work continues one year on. “Our biggest goal is to help women be comfortable and provide them with the most appropriate treatment,” says Nurse Haneen. This is no small feat in a region ravaged by disaster but your donations are making a lifesaving difference.

Thank you for supporting the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. Find out the many ways your donations are helping.