27 December 2024, Istanbul, Türkiye – Fifty tonnes of lifesaving medical supplies have arrived in Türkiye via the European Union (EU) Humanitarian Air Bridge, ready for delivery to health facilities in Syria. The shipment, coordinated by WHO, will provide much-needed support to Primary health care centers and hospitals in areas where the healthcare needs are the most pressing.
“This delivery will provide millions of Syrians facing extraordinary hardship, with much needed life-saving medical supplies” said WHO Emergency Lead for the Gaziantep field office Rosa Crestani.
“These supplies could not have come at a more critical time, as health workers struggle to provide care in overstretched facilities. We are deeply grateful to the EU for its unwavering support, which has made this consignment possible. This delivery will help save lives and strengthen services in areas where health care systems are overstretched. WHO will continue to deliver vital support wherever it is needed most.”
The shipment, which will benefit thousands of Syrians, includes trauma emergency surgery kits (TESKs) and essential medicines. TESKs are specially designed kits for trauma care in emergencies containing surgical tools, anaesthetic supplies, IV fluids and sterilization materials. The consignment also contains essential medicines to treat common conditions and prevent disease outbreaks, ensuring hospitals and clinics can respond to both urgent and routine needs.
The cargo, which will enable more than 8000 emergency surgical procedures, includes 30 000 pouches for infusions, providing vital resources to support critical care in health facilities.
The delivery, is made possible through funding from EU humanitarian aid, reflects the EU’s and WHO’s continued commitment to supporting Syria’s health care system recover and rebuild.
Even before recent developments, 141 health facilities in Idlib and northern Aleppo faced the risk of closure by the end of the year due to funding shortfalls, with potentially devastating consequences. This consignment will help bridge critical gaps, ensure medical supplies reach those in urgent need and enable health workers to continue to provide essential care.
Since 27 November, WHO has delivered 510 trauma supply units to 37 health facilities, enabling over 94 900 treatment courses, including over 8800 trauma procedures, around 80 100 courses of essential medicines, and over 5900 mental health treatments, reaching more than 33 000 people.
WHO’s operational and logistic base in Gaziantep plays a critical role in ensuring these supplies are delivered to facilities in Syria, supporting health workers who often operate under challenging conditions.
About the EU Humanitarian Air Bridge:
EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight operations reinforce humanitarian and emergency responses in countries facing fragile contexts. The flights help fill critical gaps by facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, emergency assistance and the transport of humanitarian staff when required. It is an ad hoc initiative operated on a needs-based approach. Learn more here.
Media contacts:
In Damascus, Syria: Halah Kabash,
In Gaziantep, Türkiye: Mrinalini Santhanam,
