Located in southern Syria along the border with Jordan, Sweida Governorate is home primarily to Syria’s Druze community, alongside Bedouin tribes and smaller Christian and other minority groups. For much of the civil war that erupted since 2011, Sweida remained relatively insulated from the large-scale destruction seen in other parts of the country, such as Aleppo, Homs, or Raqqa. However, years of economic decline, weakening public services, and growing insecurity have gradually compromised stability in the governorate. Access to healthcare has become increasingly difficult due to shortages of medical staff, essential medical supplies, equipment, and electricity.

At the same time, insecurity has steadily increased. Tensions have periodically flared between local armed groups, tribal-affiliated groups, and government forces, often driven by economic pressures, lawlessness, and disputes over resources and influence.



In mid-July 2025, clashes escalated sharply in both urban neighbourhoods and rural areas, including along key access routes connecting Sweida to Damascus and Daraa. The fighting involved local armed actors and tribal elements, and was accompanied by movement restrictions, road closures, and interruptions to essential services. The escalation triggered waves of displacement across the governorate and into neighbouring areas. Families fled their homes seeking safety in collective shelters or with host communities, often leaving their homes, documentation, livestock, and livelihoods.



After years of war that have strained Syria’s health system and exhausted its economy, MSF began assessing medical needs across several governorates, including Sweida, between April and June 2025. Major gaps were identified in primary and secondary care facilities, underscoring the urgent need to support the health sector in the governorate. However, the renewed clashes in mid-July 2025 prompted a shift to an emergency response. Between August and October, MSF supported health facilities through donations and further assessments, leading to an intervention starting from November and continuing to address urgent needs following the escalation of violence.

The intervention aims to reduce mortality and morbidity among families who were forced to leave their homes and host communities in Sweida governorate by ensuring access to free, quality healthcare. Activities include support for primary healthcare centres and mobile teams, integration of mental health services at various levels of care, and reinforcement of secondary care, particularly the Emergency Room at Sweida National Hospital. In collaboration with the Directorate of Health and local authorities, MSF established a permanent presence in Sweida, beginning support for PHCs, mobile clinics, and the national hospital through incentives, technical support, training, rehabilitation work, fuel donations, and distributions of hygiene and kitchen kits.

What began as a temporary displacement has now lasted for over eight months, placing a significant burden on both the displaced families and the host communities, as well as on the capacity of the hosting centers, besides the already fragile health infrastructure of Sweida.