Donald Trump’s decision to shut down USAID and stop payments to WHO has gone as a shock wave through the aid world where projects are closed down on running bands.
One of the hospitals that are at risk of being affected is Bab al Hawa in Syria.
– We are working without heat and without wages right now, says Ahmad Al Ahmad, administrative manager.
Inside one of the rooms at the Bab al Hawa hospital is five -year -old Qaswara. He is covered with a thick blanket as there is no heat in the hospital.
Qaswara has an unusual form of cancer and has been operated several times. Now he needs a final operation to end treatment. But the family has had to wait a long time.
– We have suffered due to the lack of doctors, as the support for the hospital was stopped. But hopefully he can be operated tomorrow or the next day, says his father Mohamed El Almin.
Cancer disease qaswara, 5, in need of surgery
Cancer disease qaswara, 5, in need of surgery
Photo: TV4 News
Many organizations stand without money
Bab al Hawa is one of the larger non-private hospitals in Syria. They receive tens of thousands of patients who cannot afford private care. In recent years, they have been funded by SAMS, Syrian American Medical Society and have been seen as a lifeline for all the refugees in the province of Idlib.
Due to the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, the focus has disappeared from Syria and the support has dropped in recent years, but the hospital has always succeeded in solving financing until now.
– Now we have been told that the money is over and we can only do what is in our warehouses and we are working without pay at the moment, says Ahmad Al Ahmad, administrative manager at the hospital.
Although Donald Trump’s message to close USAID has been temporarily lifted by a court, this does not mean that all projects can start again.
– Trump’s decision has led to many organizations losing their support, especially organizations that work with women’s education or the like. This really strikes against the most vulnerable. I hope that other countries, such as Qatar, can help us, says Ahmad Al Ahmad.
Worry great: “We’ll all die slowly”
Syria is currently facing huge challenges. The joy after Bashar Al Assad’s case has settled and many are worried about the economy, safety and work. Large parts of the country are bombed and it is difficult for people to return even if the war is over. One of those who noticed this is Mohammed Darwich.
After living in camps for many years, he moved back to his house when the regime fell. But since there is no functioning electricity, they use – like many others – car batteries to light some lamps in the evening or charge the phone. One of the batteries exploded straight into his face and damaged his eye.
– If Bab al Hawa was not there, the eye would not have been saved. If they put down the only hospital we have, we will all die slowly, he says.