Syria
The Syrian Civil War that began in 2011 has resulted in one of the most complex humanitarian crises of the 21st century. In conflict zones like Syria, healthcare infrastructure is severely disrupted and living conditions are often unsanitary. These conditions create the perfect environment for the proliferation of leishmaniasis, a vector-borne disease that is transmitted by sandflies.
Sandflies breed in cracks and crevices, in uncollected waste, and in the rubble of destroyed buildings. The disease is also often associated with malnutrition, population displacement, poor housing and weakened immune systems, which are all widespread across Syria. The disease manifests in different forms, including cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which causes skin sores, and visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which affects internal organs and can be fatal if left untreated.
The MENTOR Initiative has been active in Syria since 2013, implementing various activities to address leishmaniasis and its associated risks.
MENTOR has made extensive efforts to combat leishmaniasis across the north-west and north-east regions and delivered prevention and treatment activities in seven governorates.
