Syria's future generation of young people is being lost due to the multiple crises affecting the country, according to a senior official at the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
The devastating impact of 12 years of civil war has been compounded by the 6 February earthquake which has left tens of thousands of people dead and millions more in need of support on both sides of the border between Syria and Türkiye.
WHO's Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari, was just in the historic city of Aleppo, in Syria.
"The destruction is massive and the devastation is indescribable.
The earthquake hit at a time when needs across Syria are at their highest since the conflict began 12 years back. For example, almost 50 per cent of the country's healthcare facilities are not functioning because of the war and now more crucial medical equipment has been destroyed by the earthquake.
Many health care staff had already left because of the war and those who stayed have struggled to carry out their work.
We estimate that around 25 million people have been impacted by the earthquake in the whole of Syria. In Aleppo, for example, initial estimates of the numbers indicate that more than 200,000 people are now homeless. We have met many of them. We have visited many of these damaged areas and we have seen people living, outside in very cold weather.
In fact, a family of 16 was living in one tent. We have seen families packed into stadiums, families in shelters and in very small rooms.
Negotiation with Syrian authorities
WHO and other UN agencies have been on the ground from day one. We managed to provide supplies to 16 hospitals in northwestern Syria through our NGO partners.
Two days ago, we provided a shipment of 35 metric tonnes of trauma kits and other medical supplies for infections. We will be sending more from our supply hub in Dubai.
We mobilized our teams to go and work with their counterparts in the ministries of health and the healthcare facilities.
We have been negotiating with the authorities in the Government-controlled areas to make sure that the supplies are fairly distributed to the healthcare facilities and to get cross-border access to the earthquake-affected areas.
