The United Nations Office for Project Services and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center have launched a US$1.5 million project to improve pediatric healthcare services for children in conflict-affected communities in Syria.
The initiative will support more than 840,000 children by providing critical medical equipment and strengthening healthcare capacity in hospitals across Aleppo and Hama Governorates. The partnership aims to address urgent gaps in life-saving pediatric care caused by years of conflict and damage to Syria’s healthcare system.
As part of the latest project developments, specialized pediatric medical equipment is being delivered to four hospitals. This includes echocardiography machines, incubators and other essential equipment needed to improve care for newborns and children with serious health conditions.
The project will also provide comprehensive training for local healthcare personnel to ensure the effective and sustainable use of the new equipment. This training will help strengthen the capacity of medical teams to deliver specialized care and respond to the needs of vulnerable children.
In Aleppo, where there is currently no pediatric cardiac surgery facility, UNOPS is working closely with the Syrian Ministry of Health to equip a new Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Ibn Roshed Hospital for Cardiac Diseases and Surgery.
The project will also provide essential medical equipment to three hospitals in Hama Governorate. These improvements are expected to expand access to pediatric intensive care and specialized treatment for children in areas affected by limited healthcare infrastructure.
Syria’s prolonged conflict has severely weakened the country’s health system. Many health facilities are only partially functional, while shortages of equipment, specialized services and trained healthcare professionals continue to limit access to basic and emergency medical care.
For children, these challenges have created serious barriers to life-saving treatment. The new initiative seeks to provide urgent and practical healthcare solutions while also supporting longer-term recovery and resilience in Syria’s health sector.
UNOPS said the partnership with KSrelief is helping build a lifeline for Syria’s children by responding to immediate medical needs and laying the foundation for more inclusive and sustainable healthcare services.
KSrelief said the project will strengthen healthcare capacities and emergency health response for children in Northern Syria. By providing specialized equipment for pediatric intensive care and pediatric cardiac surgery, the initiative aims to improve the quality of care available to some of Syria’s most vulnerable children.
Since its establishment in 2015, KSrelief has provided more than US$8 billion in humanitarian aid across 108 countries, including US$532 million in support for Syria. UNOPS has also continued working in Syria over the past decade, delivering critical projects despite ongoing challenges.
Overall, the UNOPS and KSrelief initiative represents an important investment in pediatric healthcare in Syria. By improving hospital equipment, training medical personnel and expanding access to specialized care, the project aims to protect children’s health and support recovery in conflict-affected communities.
