EU groups suspend support for medical centres in Syria’s Idlib

European organisations have been cutting funding to medical centres in Idlib after opposition group Hayaat Tahrir Al-Shaam (HTS) consolidated its control over the northern Syrian province, according to local activists.

Medical authorities in Idlib and Hama have announced the start of voluntary work in over 40 health centres, after funding from European donors, particularly those from France and Germany, was suspended.

This week, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) announced on its website that it had ceased activities in Syria citing “recent political developments”. Sources on the ground also reported that GIZ’s partner agency, the Local Development Organisation (LDO), had also suspended some its projects for women in the areas of Hama, Idlib and Aleppo western countryside, presumably as a result of the cutbacks.

Blood banks, specialised hospitals and emergency departments are also believed to be affected, with health officials estimating that support has been suspended for more than 70 per cent of the hospitals in the Hama countryside; some 250 doctors, nurses and administrators are now working on a voluntary basis.

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The cuts come after former Al-Qaeda affiliate HTS claimed victory over Turkey-backed National Liberation Front (NLF) forces, following nine days of infighting earlier this month. The NLF accepted a peace deal recognising civilian control by an HTS-backed administration, with some 1,700 fighters from the former agreeing to relocate to areas secured by Ankara.

Yet European states have expressed misgivings at funding facilities in territory controlled by HTS, described as jihadists.

Although activists and medical officials on the ground have stressed that health facilities are dedicated to aiding civilians and were neutral as to the political and military situation, it remains uncertain as to whether funding will be reinstated.

“There is no doubt that we will not be able to secure all what we need, and this will negatively affect the quality of the services we provide to citizens, most of whom cannot afford the price of medicines,” Managing Director of Al-Ghab Al-Aswat Medical Centre, Hassan Al-Eiss, told reporters.

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Despite concerns last year that the US would permanently cut its aid to Syrian facilities, the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) resumed its support for Idlib’s medical sector last month. However fears remain as to whether American organisations will follow their European counterparts and cease funding in a bid to exert pressure on HTS.

Hospitals in the liberated northern territory serve some 3.5 million people, a third of whom are children, providing urgent healthcare to refugees amid ongoing bombardment by Russian and Syrian forces.

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