WHO says 16.5 million people in Syria will need humanitarian assistance

15 October 2026

The World Health Organization's Syrian Arab Republic Health Emergency Appeal 2026 states that 16.5 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2026.
The appeal says fourteen years of conflict and underinvestment have left Syria's health system severely weakened amid economic collapse, displacement and repeated shocks.
Drought, disease outbreaks and damaged infrastructure continue to limit access to care.
Cholera, measles and other epidemic-prone diseases persist alongside growing chronic health needs.
WHO says it is delivering life-saving health services and sustaining disease surveillance during the transition period.