Syria:
The ongoing conflict has compounded the challenges of providing rehabilitation services, with resources stretched thin and infrastructure severely damaged.
Rehabilitation services, including physical therapy and provision of assistive devices, are primarily provided by NGOs and international organizations. However, the availability and coverage of these services remain limited, especially in conflict-affected areas where access is restricted.
The healthcare system in Syria suffers from a lack of consistent funding due to the discontinuity of grants, exacerbating the challenge of meeting the ongoing and renewed rehabilitation needs, particularly in northern Syria, where environmental conditions are far from ideal.
Turkey:
Despite having a more structured healthcare system, Turkey faces challenges in providing rehabilitation services, exacerbated by the influx of refugees following the Syrian crisis and the additional burden from the 2023 earthquake.
Before the earthquake, a parallel support system provided rehabilitation services to refugees, with a plan to transition these services into the national healthcare system. However, the earthquake’s impact has made this transition more difficult due to the destruction of healthcare facilities and the increased need for rehabilitation.
Individuals with physical disabilities or impairments, particularly refugees, lost access to continuous rehabilitation services due to the earthquake, as long-term rehabilitation for children with disabilities falls under the Ministry of Education, which does not include refugees.