When renewed clashes in mid-July 2025 forced thousands of people in Sweida governorate, Syria, to flee their homes, many families believed it would be a short displacement. Eight months later, there is increasing pressure on host communities and overstretched health facilities that were already struggling to function.

“When we first arrived to this hosting center, people here provided for us, but the burden is too heavy,” says Majeda, 59, who fled her home in Al-Majdal village in the western countryside of Sweida, and is now living in a hosting center in Shahba City. “We need food and medications, we need everything.” she adds.

Between April and June, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) had already identified critical healthcare needs in Sweida. When violence escalated in July, MSF launched an emergency response, supporting hospital and medical facilities with medical supplies and fuel, as well as distributing hygiene and kitchen kits to displaced families.

Years of conflict have severely weakened Syria’s health system and deepened economic difficulties, and deteriorating conditions are putting more pressure on an already overburdened health system and on local resources.

There must be more action to bridge the gap between the needs of the community and the capacity of available services. ​ Delivering essential assistance, including medical care, shelter, and relief items, is crucial to easing the hardships faced by displaced families and the communities that are hosting them.