Syria is at a historic turning point in its history: give it the means to take the right path!
By Ziad Alissa, Anesthesiologist-Intensivist, President of the NGO Mehad
Open Letter to Emmanuel Macron, the Representatives of the EU Member States, and the International Donor Community
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
On Monday, January 27, the countries of the European Union agreed on a significant gesture of confidence toward Syria by lifting part of the sanctions imposed on the country during the Syrian civil war.
A strong gesture, indeed. And one that deserves to be acknowledged. But a gesture that will remain futile if it is not followed by further commitments.
Respect for human rights and the protection of minorities by the new Syrian authorities are among the key conditions for this easing of sanctions. As a doctor, as a Syrian, and as the founding president of a health-focused NGO working on the front lines with the victims of the devastating civil war that has ravaged the country since 2011, I can only welcome this pragmatic approach.
Throughout these years of medical interventions in Syria, often carried out clandestinely, I have witnessed more atrocities than any person should see in a lifetime. Mutilated women, tortured men, even children—victims of chemical weapon attacks.
In this regard, the respect for human rights is, quite obviously, an absolute necessity.
However, this caution—while crucial—must not overshadow the fact that Syria’s reconstruction, a prerequisite for ensuring human rights, starting with the right to health, will only be possible through a genuine lifting of international sanctions, including American sanctions, which are essential to allow the country to recover. Additionally, substantial funding for humanitarian aid is crucial to address the emergency in a land where 13 years of war have left nothing but ruins.
At the end of December, alongside my fellow doctors and co-founders of our NGO, I traveled to Syria. There, I witnessed the complete collapse of the healthcare system.
I had the opportunity to meet with Syria’s new Minister of Health, who shared a staggering figure: out of the country’s 1,777 healthcare facilities, only 16.4% are operational—and most of them only partially.
I also visited several hospitals. The few remaining doctors lack everything—medical supplies, equipment, staff. The fetal mortality rate is close to 10%, compared to 8.5 per thousand in France.
I saw premature infants die because a generator had stopped working. I saw dialysis patients in life-threatening emergencies due to the lack of available treatment, and diabetic patients in comas because insulin was unavailable. I saw entire hospital departments abandoned due to a lack of resources.
In Aleppo, I met a cardiovascular surgeon—he is the only one for a region with several million inhabitants. In Damascus, I spoke with nurses who, earning only $30 to $40 per month—of which $20 goes toward transportation—have no choice but to leave the profession in order to survive.
Syria is at a turning point in its history. But it can only rebuild with international aid that matches the scale of the crisis and the immense needs on the ground. And it can only recover with a genuine lifting of sanctions, particularly financial sanctions, which currently hinder any action by international NGOs and prevent the revival of Syria’s economy, which lies in complete ruin.
Dr Ziad ALISSA, Mehad’s President
