In a remarkable humanitarian step, Qatari medical aid arrived at Damascus International Airport as part of the “Syria Abshri” initiative. This aid package is part ongoing support for the Syrian health sector, which is suffering from the repercussions of over a decade of war.
Comprehensive Aid
Aid includes 90 tons of medical equipment and supplies worth over 45 million Qatari riyals (approximately $12.5 million), transported via land and air bridges. Twenty-two trucks departed in three land convoys from the warehouses of Sidra Medicine and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Doha on August 28, followed by a relief plane that arrived on Sunday, September 7, 2025, carrying 12 tons of specialized medical equipment.
Included in the aid package were X-ray, anesthesia, and dialysis equipment, advanced laboratory analysis equipment, vital signs monitors and artificial respiration equipment, infant incubators, radiology and laser imaging systems, freezers for plasma and biological materials, cardiac and neurological monitoring devices, clinical decision-support equipment, patient transport, and environmental protection and sterilization tools.
A Message of Solidarity and Hope
This effort is a collaboration between the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sidra Medicine, the Syrian Ministry of Health, the QRCS, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). The Qatari delegation was headed by Yusuf bin Ali al-Khater, QRSC Chairman, and included Faisal Muhammad al-Emadi, QRCS Secretary-General, and the Assistant Secretary-Generals for Relief, International Development, and Communication.
Khater emphasized this aid is a “message of solidarity titled ‘Syria… Be Happy’” to contribute to revitalizing the Syria’s health sector while enhancing the capacity of its medical institutions to meet the needs of millions of Syrians. He highlighted the pivotal role of the QRCS since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2012.
Musaab al-Ali, the Syrian Minister of Health, described the initiative as “not just equipment and supplies, but rather a message of sincere solidarity and a new life for our patients, and renewed hope in the hearts of our medical personnel.”
Relief for a Difficult Health Situation
The Qatari Chargé d’Affaires in Syria confirmed the aid will be distributed to various Syrian governorates and regions, including Suwayda and the Syrian coastal governorates, reflecting Qatar’s commitment to delivering its aid to all Syrians without exception.
This initiative comes amid the deteriorating health situation in Syria, where the effects of war are still lingering in most medical facilities. According to statistics from the Syrian Ministry of Health, there are 1,779 medical facilities in Syria, including centers and clinics. Of these, 630 have been completely destroyed and 400 partially destroyed.
The remaining facilities suffer from a severe shortages of equipment, personnel, and supplies. This aid provides a message of hope supporting Syrian resilience and strengthening the capabilities of Syria’s health sector to continue providing vital services to citizens In all regions.
