1. 'Retraumatized': Assessing the Impact of the Earthquake on Northern Syria's Humanitarian Crisis
- Author:
- Charles Lister, Dania Albaba, Nora Abdullah, Natasha Hall, and Alex Mahoney
- Publication Date:
- 06-2023
- Content Type:
- Video
- Institution:
- Middle East Institute (MEI)
- Abstract:
- The Syrian conflict, now in its 13th year, has generated a complex humanitarian emergency resulting from the dislocation of half of the country’s population and the disintegration of the Syrian public health system, greatly exacerbating the pre-existing global refugee crisis. The conflict and mass displacement have additionally had a severe psychological impact on civilians, resulting in high levels of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The earthquake that struck northern Syria on Feb. 6, 2023 — the worst in the region in 200 years — compounded and retraumatized an already acutely affected population. Last February, MedGlobal deployed a team of psychiatric professionals to conduct post-disaster mental health training in northwestern Syria — their experiences led to the publication of a groundbreaking new report: “Retraumatized: The Psychological Impact of the Earthquake on War-Torn Syria.” The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host a discussion with the report’s authors, who will present their findings and policy recommendations and explore the many wider aspects of Syria’s humanitarian crisis, including the upcoming United Nations Security Council vote on cross-border aid access into northwestern Syria.
- Topic:
- Natural Disasters, Trauma, Humanitarian Crisis, and Earthquake
- Political Geography:
- Middle East and Syria