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Upholding an open-border policy with Iraq for nearly two decades, Syria is now overwhelmed by what is considered to be the largest population movement since the Palestinian exodus in 1948. Rivaling the size of Phoenix, the fifth largest city in the United States, the refugee influx has placed significant strain on Syrian resources, particularly in the capital, Damascus, where 80 percent of the incoming Iraqis have resettled.
With violence and instability in Iraq sending thousands across the border daily, Syria has agreed to share the aid effort with select members of the international aid community. Of the 14 approved so far by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to assist Iraqi refugees, International Medical Corps (IMC) is the only participating American-based NGO . Even more significantly, IMC was also the first to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (M OU) making it an official international humanitarian presence in Syria this February.
This critical breakthrough allows International Medical Corps to align with SARC and the succeeding signatories to work collectively to reverse the gradual erosion of Syrian economic and public systems that followed the Iraqi influx. Bursting at the seams, Iraqis’ safety net in Syria now provides only patchy security. Their entry corresponded with skyrocketing inflation that made basic necessities inaccessible to Iraqis entering with limited financial resources. The Syrian government estimates that this phenomenon increased food prices by 35 percent, electricity by 27 percent, and water by 21 percent. These climbing prices pale in comparison with the cost of housing, which has risen by an estimated 300 percent since Iraqis began moving into Syria.
With legal work opportunities a sought-after commodity, 75 percent of Iraqi refugees are forced to live off irregular income, savings, gifts, and financial assistance from relatives in Iraq. Showing little to no sign of decline, Syria’s soaring prices make it difficult, if not impossible, for most Iraqis to ration their rapidly dwindling resources to meet their basic needs. Among the aid population that International Medical Corps will begin to service, housing and food are sited as the most urgent demands and 30 percent report a need for domestic items such as bedding, cooking utensils, hygiene kits, and food.
These soaring prices and a non-existent job market make it almost impossible for most Iraqis to satisfy basic needs. For many of the Iraqi families that International Medical Corps will soon support, rent for a one-bedroom apartment is practically unattainable. Desperately trying to make ends meet, these families support themselves through a patchwork of handouts, loans, and temporary jobs. Many times, Iraqi children are forced to take on menial jobs to help support their families, leaving them unable to attend school and complete a basic education.
With fundamental needs so difficult to fulfill, access to health care services is an inconceivable luxury without financial assistance. Chronic diseases are reported in 57 percent of the Iraqi population, leaving those suffering from cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other persistent illnesses to receive erratic treatment at best. Among those diagnosed with ongoing health issues, 36 percent suffer from hypertension, 21 percent with diabetes, 18 percent heart disease, and up to 8 percent have some sort of psychosocial or mental disorder.
Despite SARC’s efforts to provide inexpensive medical care to Iraqis, limited resources have handicapped their ability to meet the staggering demand. Clinics have reported up 90 percent of their patients to be Iraqi, while the national vaccination campaign estimates that barely half of Iraqi children under five regularly take advantage of these treatments - even though these vaccinations are completely free of charge.
The Syrian school system is also under pressure, as the number enrolled has increased from 33,000 in 2006/07 academic year to up to 50,000 for 2007/08. Despite the high enrollment rates, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 255,000 Iraqi children still do not attend school. For the thousands of children compelled to help their families earn income, literacy and basic education levels are comprised, handicapping them further. This issue is compounded by a high prevalence of disabilities among Iraqi children. If the support infrastructure is not created, these children will continue to face obstacles to education and, eventually, to employment.
Based on this assessment, International Medical Corps plans to initially establish two primary health clinics in rural Damascus where underserved Iraqis can find primary, reproductive, and nutritional health care services in addition to disease treatment and prevention programs. In the future, IMC looks to establish an additional six. To enhance the medical infrastructure, IMC also plans to train locals in basic health care and hygiene, offer psychosocial services, and support two SARC dental clinics.
For the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis looking to rebuild their lives in Syria, International Medical Corps’ multi-dimensional program expands beyond basic humanitarian support. By offering health care training to Iraqi refugees, new jobs are not only created, but a foundation for physical and mental well-being is also created. The result is an environment that not only provides an escape from violence, but a stable community for Iraqi refugees to repair those wounds that linger long after crossing the Syrian border.
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International Medical Corps Featured by Reuters for its New Program in Syria
International Medical Corps is a part of the first international aid effort for the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria. To read the Reuters story on this exciting breakthrough, please click here.
