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AFS attended the official inauguration of the rehabilitation works at Ma’arrat Al-Numan National Hospital and five primary health centres in rural Idleb on 29 June. The event, organised by Hand in Hand for Aid and Development (HIHFAD), took place at the hospital under the patronage of the Syrian Ministry of Health, and was attended by HE Mr Mohammed Abdulrahman, Governor of Idleb, and HE Dr Musab Al Ali, Minister of Health, along with the Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RCHC) and a UN delegation.
Ola Batta, Programme Lead in AFS’s Partnerships and Delivery Unit, delivered a speech during the event, highlighting the importance of the facilities as “an investment in health, in the safety of children, and in the dignity of every person needing care without fear or delay”. Noting AFS’s longstanding commitment to supporting local communities across Syria, she described the launch as “a message of hope” that recovery and reconstruction are possible through joint efforts built on trust, transparency, and local leadership.
Ma’arrat Al-Numan National Hospital has been out of operation since 2019 as a result of the conflict, placing pressure on the city’s primary health centres to meet growing needs from residents, returnees, and nearby IDP camps. With support under Envelope 3 of AFS’s third Regular Allocation (RA3), AFS provided a US$ 1.4 million grant in March 2025 to the National NGO HIHFAD to fund 60–65% of the hospital’s reconstruction, including the installation of ventilation, heating, sewage, and lighting systems, as well as the establishment of a dedicated 400 sqm outpatient department (OPD) fitted with medical and non-medical equipment.
The project is expected to benefit over 71,000 people, offering essential medical services to residents and returnees as the city rebuilds.