In Jordan, in the city of Ramtha, close to Deraa, one of the cradles of the Syrian revolt, Médecins du Monde has started the first part of an assistance programme for Syrian refugees. This border crossing between Jordan and Syria has recently seen a substantial influx of refugees. There are estimated to be more than 10,000 Syrians in the city, and around one hundred per day are arriving at the transit camp established by the Jordanian authorities (500 people are always present there). The conditions in which they have fled Syria and the precariousness of their present situation render them all the more vulnerable.
In the transit camp, MDM supports the Jordanian volunteer doctors working there and ensures the supply of essential medicines and medical equipment. A psychosocial support team will provide care and treatment for exhausted refugees, some of whom are suffering from post-traumatic stress.
In the city of Ramtha itself, MDM plans to set up a clinic and provide medical equipment and supplies.
In Lebanon, other assistance activities are progressively taking shape in partnership with local organisations. In the Bekaa Valley, MDM has decided to support several healthcare facilities (dispensaries and a local hospital) that are providing care to displaced Syrians in terms of material and technical support. MDM is also preparing stocks of medical and surgical kits for the potential opening of ‘a humanitarian space’ inside the Syrian territory.
In Syria, in conjunction with Syrian doctors, MDM is reinforcing the supply of medical materials and drugs to respond to the needs identified by the doctors on the ground (supply, medical and social follow-up of wounded people outside of Syria, etc.)
Present in Aleppo between 2008 and 2011, Médecins du Monde ceased its activities in Syria in late 2011 due to the absence of the necessary authorisations from the government of Damascus despite several requests to the Syrian Embassy in France and to the central authorities of the Syrian government. With the development of the crisis and in the absence of easy access to the country, MDM has chosen to implement medical and psychosocial assistance activities for Syrian refugees and the wounded seeking refuge in neighbouring countries by supporting local partners already assisting them. MDM is also developing ways to provide medicines and other medical supplies directly to Syrian medical organisations.
In the face of continuing violence, Médecins du Monde strongly condemns the violence perpetrated against civilians and calls on the Syrian government to fully respect its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Médecins du Monde also calls for the respect of medical and healthcare personnel, as well as for health facilities in Syria to remain neutral, which must under no circumstances be the object of an attack and must remain places of care.
Finally, Médecins du Monde asks all parties involved in the conflict for direct access to combat zones and for the establishment of a regular suspension of hostilities to allow for evacuation, assistance to the wounded, and delivery of humanitarian relief to people in need.
Press Contact
Agnès Varraine-Leca / Léa Carniglia
+33(0)1 44 92 14 32 / 13 81 – +33(0)6 09 17 35 59
infomdm@medecinsdumonde.net / www.medecinsdumonde.org