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Medical workers in Syria have faced the devastating challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, while also risking their lives caring for the victims of ongoing violence and aerial attacks on civilian infrastructure. Despite years of effort, attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria remain all too common. May 2021 marked...

The past year has brought immense challenges to every corner of the world, and this is especially true for the 80 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the already-poor conditions for refugees, two-thirds of whom come from just five countries – Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan,...

One of the biggest challenges for refugees and underserved communities is getting access to vital, specialized care. This is especially true in countries like Lebanon, home to more than 1.7 million refugees struggling to make ends meet amid an economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic.  The story of Hadi, a...

It is far too often that refugees and underserved communities don’t get the chance to engage in the healing process after trauma-related to displacement and take part in providing critical assistance to their communities. This is especially true in regards to mental health.  In Syria and its neighboring countries, SAMS...

2020 changed the landscape for everyone. In Lebanon, the unprecedented economic crisis, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut blast in August 2020, has exacerbated the living conditions for displaced populations. Many refugees in Lebanon are struggling to access the care they need. Hailing from Syria, Nabil and his...

Around 7.5 million Syrian children and adolescents are currently in need of support due to conflict, with more than half showing signs of mental and emotional distress (UNHCR). Though many refugees show immense resilience in the face of these challenges, we also know that far too many children are experiencing...

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a heightened sense of collective vulnerability, and it is important to remember that despite the setbacks and collective trauma we have gone through this year, we can still achieve our dreams if given access to the right resources. This is especially true in...

Dr. Maher Azzouz, Chairman of SAMS Foundation The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has awoken the world to a newfound sense not only of vulnerability but also of shared humanity. It has brought us together in ways we couldn’t imagine, reinforcing our interconnectedness and interdependence.  Governments and non-profit organizations around the world...

22-year-old Fatima* visited our Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Center in Gaziantep, Turkey suffering from chronic depression, characterized by intense feelings of hopelessness and other symptoms. “I am constantly worn out and my life is in disarray. Every day feels like I’m being suffocated and that everything is out...

Northwest Syria continues to experience an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases. SAMS operates three COVID-19 centers in the area specialized in treating and managing severe cases of the coronavirus. We recently caught up with one of our patients who shared his moving story of how he and his father struggled...

Ola is one of our medical students in Turkey. She is one of the first recipients of the SAMS scholarship and is now in her fifth year of medical school. She dreams of becoming a doctor so she can go back to Syria and help her community in need. In...

In northwest Syria, SAMS operates a number of mobile clinics that travel to IDP settlements to provide primary and specialized care to vulnerable individuals. Each mobile clinic includes a physician, a pharmacist, a midwife, a social worker, and a nutritionist. We recently caught up with Dr. Khaled Al-Omar, a SAMS ...