Despite these figures, the actual number of people with war-related injuries is likely to be much higher. Among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, 80% of injuries are a direct consequence of the war. In Turkey, the true number is unknown.

The conflict in Syria that began in 2011 has shut down the country’s healthcare system, resulting in a lack of access to proper medical care, which has prolonged or worsened injuries. In neighboring Turkey, home to 3.6 million Syrian refugees, the influx has added significant strain on the country’s healthcare system.

With support from the European Commission Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Relief International is working alongside our local partner the National Syrian Project for Prosthetic Limbs (NSPPL) to provide specialized health services to Syrian refugees with physical injuries and disabilities – a direct result of the country’s years-long war.

Relief International supports a health center through NSPPL that is located just over a mile from the Turkish-Syrian border. The center specializes in providing prosthetic limbs, orthotic devices, and physical rehabilitation services to Syrians with war-related injuries. Staff, the majority of whom are Syrian refugees, see ten patients per day, fitting an average of forty new limbs per month.

This project aims to create a more resilient refugee community in Turkey by improving the overall well-being of these displaced populations. The project also works to reduce the burden on the Turkish healthcare system by subsidizing the cost and delivery of these specialized services.