Northeast Syria. A fully renovated Clinic in Areesha IDP Camp

After the floods in 2021, the renovated primary health center in the Areesha camp is finally open, thanks to the efforts of the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC), Un Ponte Per, and the support of the European Union Humanitarian Aid.

In Syria, the new clinic in Areesha camp is now a reality. The camp for displaced people was established in 2017, in the south of the city of Hasakeh and in the close proximity of a large lake, to respond to the needs of the Syrian population fleeing from the province of Deir ez Zor, tragically known for the bloody clashes and 3-year siege by Daesh (ISIS) militiamen. Thanks to our local partner, the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC), we immediately set up a clinic for the population as soon as the camp was opened. Initially, the health facility was a simple first aid point in a large tent. Thanks to the humanitarian support of the European Union and the synergistic work with KRC, the facility has been gradually improved. We have been able to expand the structure, the spaces and the services offered, ensuring free basic health care and 24/7 emergency services for all the population of the camp. Medical services include pediatric care, sexual and reproductive health services, general medicine for the treatment of communicable and chronic diseases, psychological support, as well as ambulance referrals to other facilities in case of need. Today, Areesha camp hosts more than 14,000 people, and our clinic is the only one providing the full range of primary care services and ambulance transport outside the camp for emergencies. For this reason, the clinic has become a reference point for the population. Here are some numbers to better understand: over 100 patients visit the center every day; 2,900 medical visits are performed every month; last year 250 children were born in the clinic.

Between 2021 and 2022, the camp underwent a process of restructuring and expansion to accommodate further displaced persons fleeing from the Turkish military operations in 2019, and to ensure greater hydrogeological safety for those who live there. Due to its location, the camp is often affected by flooding from the nearby water basin. To give an idea, in 2021 more than half of the camp was completely flooded. For these reasons, most of the tents that provide shelter to families have been gradually moved in a newly established and safer area of the camp, including our clinic, which had to be dismantled and transferred to remain close to the people and ensure that essential health services were not interrupted. The new clinic was finally inaugurated on March 19th, amidst the satisfaction of the camp residents and the administration that manages it, while the old site will be gradually dismantled.

We are proud of this result, made possible thanks to the fundamental support of the European Union Humanitarian Aid. Despite the war that continues to afflict the Syrian population and the ongoing earthquake emergency, we truly work for change. It is possible to build bridges with Syria every day. We are trying to.