Health Sector Syria - Health Sector Bulletin - January 2025
SITUATION OVERVIEW
• Day-to-day operational dialogue is in place with the Directorate of International Cooperation and Planning, the MoH.
• WHO Health Emergency Appeal was launched on 16 January. To meet these health needs, WHO requested $56.4 million for the next six months
• “Every ton of these supplies represents hope for millions in Syria": WHO’s first global charter for 2025 has delivered nearly 33 tons of emergency health supplies to Syria, a critical step towards restoring essential health services for communities affected by years of crisis. Working closely with partners across Syria and the Ministry of Health, WHO is addressing urgent health needs to support the people of Syria in this critical time.
• Trump Withdraws U.S. from World Health Organization.
• RDM, Regional Dialogue Mechanism, meeting took place in Amman, 13 January. The health sector is represented by WHO as CLA.
• WHO and UNFPA Regional Directors, Drs. Hanan Balkhy and Laila Baker, visited Syria, 20 – 23 January 2025.
• Up to 50 NWS based health cluster partners have been engaging in continuous coordination and dialogue with Damascus and other sub-national health sector coordination groups. Linkages are being made with existing coordination structures at national and sub-national level and technical working groups.
• Day-to-day operational dialogue in place under the WoS umbrella, reaching out to NES NGO Forum coordination group.
• January 28, Emergency Humanitarian Waiver to Foreign Assistance Pause was issued by the State Department.
• OCHA Syria conducted a meeting on a number of pending issues with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, 27 January 2025.
• Close follow up on the impact of AANES authorities on voluntary return of residents of NES camps.
• Syrian MoFA informed about the requests concerning field visits to be submitted at least 20 working days in advance, and requests regarding meetings with official entities in the Syrian Arab Republic at least 7 working days in advance.
• Syrian MoFA issued a circular issued clarifying the definition of INGOs and the requirement for registration.
• The UNCT Syria retreat is forming 3 thematic clusters, related to SDGs [1-Poverty, 10-Inequality, 16-Peace] to coordinate support transition and recovery in Syria.
• Abstract of return overview as of 16 January:
