USAID Cuts
What was the impact of USAID funding cuts on healthcare in northern Syria?
As of January 26, 2021, medical services in northern Syria were suspended due to funding cuts by USAID, resulting in the closure of operations in 12 health facilities and centers. According to the aid organization representative, this suspension has had a severe impact on healthcare provision in the region. These closures particularly affect millions of vulnerable people displaced by conflict and natural disasters who rely on humanitarian assistance for basic medical care. Critical services including maternity wards and emergency care have been compromised, leaving countless Syrians without access to essential healthcare services.
Watch clip answer (00:13m)
Al Jazeera English
01:37 - 01:50
What has been the impact of the Trump administration's decision to stop foreign assistance in Syria?
The Trump administration's decision to halt foreign assistance has had severe consequences on healthcare in Syria, resulting in the closure of at least a dozen medical clinics. This has worsened the humanitarian crisis affecting over 7 million displaced Syrians who now face insufficient support for critical health services, including essential maternity care. The situation has left facilities like the Babel Hawa Hospital on the verge of closure, with local communities who depend on NGO-supported healthcare services struggling to survive without proper medical assistance.
Watch clip answer (00:06m)Al Jazeera English
00:11 - 00:18
Why can't people in northern Syria access necessary medications?
Most people in northern Syria cannot access essential medications due to extreme poverty. As stated by a Syrian camp resident, the population is 'extremely poor' and unable to afford medications from private pharmacies. This situation has been exacerbated by war and recent funding cuts. With over 7 million displaced people and USAID suspending operations, more than a dozen medical facilities face closure. These clinics, which previously provided affordable or free healthcare to vulnerable populations, are now receiving diminished aid, leaving millions without access to basic healthcare services.
Watch clip answer (00:05m)Al Jazeera English
00:51 - 00:56
What is the imminent crisis facing healthcare in northern Syria?
Aid workers report that more than 150 health centers and hospitals in northern Syria could shut down by the end of March due to funding cuts. These closures are primarily linked to the discontinuation of USAID support from the Trump administration, creating an urgent humanitarian crisis. These medical facilities provide essential healthcare services to millions of vulnerable people, including displaced families who rely entirely on charity and non-governmental organizations for medical care. The region, already struggling to recover from years of conflict, now faces the collapse of its fragile healthcare infrastructure.
Watch clip answer (00:06m)Al Jazeera English
02:10 - 02:16
What is the current humanitarian concern in northern Syria?
Abdul Karim, a Camp Manager in northern Syria, is expressing deep concern about a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis following the Trump administration's suspension of foreign aid. With over 7 million displaced Syrians, the situation has become critical as essential medical facilities are shutting down due to funding cuts. The crisis is particularly impacting healthcare services, with severe shortages of medications and the potential closure of vital facilities including Babel Hawa Hospital. Families living in tents are especially vulnerable as humanitarian support diminishes, highlighting the urgent need for renewed international assistance.
Watch clip answer (00:02m)Al Jazeera English
00:59 - 01:02
What impact did Donald Trump's decision to halt USAID have on communities in northern Syria?
Donald Trump's decision to halt USAID had far-reaching consequences for communities in northern Syria that were dependent on humanitarian assistance. The funding cuts severely affected medical services, leading to the shutdown of critical healthcare facilities including the Babel Hawa Hospital, which served vulnerable populations in the region. With over 7 million Syrians already displaced, these aid reductions exacerbated an existing humanitarian crisis, leaving families struggling to access essential services and survive. Medical aid workers and local populations faced immense challenges as the infrastructure supporting displaced and vulnerable Syrians began to collapse due to the sudden withdrawal of American support.
Watch clip answer (00:06m)Al Jazeera English
02:28 - 02:34