DAMASCUS, Syria — Summer heat may prove to be an unstoppable force against Syrian refugees. At the beginning of the season, Oxfam released a statement warning that high summer temperatures could put the health of refugees at risk. The health care system is already strained, as refugees flee to the bordering countries of Lebanon and Jordan, the former having a highly privatized healthcare system, according to Amnesty International. The need for medical care far outweighs the capacity of healthcare systems and the cost is often too high for most refugees. As the summer season peaks, medical issues will only increase.
Oxfam reports that summer temperatures can reach as high as 104 degrees, putting the elderly, women and children at risk. Due to poor sanitation and lack of water, diarrheal and skin diseases have spread throughout refugee camps. High temperatures and gastro intestinal distress can easily lead to dehydration, which in some cases can be fatal.
In the summer of 2013, the World Health Organization expressed concerns about the spread of “water-borne diseases, specifically hepatitis, typhoid, cholera and dysentery.” Additionally, the movement of refugees increases the risk of spreading these diseases to other areas. Due to the movement of refugees, Jordan experienced a reemergence of measles, though the country had previously been measles-free for three years.
In Jordan’s refugee camps, the WHO says that upper respiratory infections, diarrheal and skin conditions are the biggest issues. Additionally, intestinal parasites pose a threat. The organization is attempting to provide deworming tablets to schoolchildren. The WHO also hopes to provide immunizations for measles and polio, which would protect both Syrian and Jordanian children.
Older refugees face the burden of chronic diseases, such as gastro intestinal issues, hypertension, asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, according to the WHO. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that heat exposure can exacerbate the symptoms of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory ailments.
Amnesty International points out the need for a better comprehensive health system in host nations, specifically Lebanon. By the end of 2014, Lebanon is anticipated to be the home to one-third of Syria’s pre-war population. Health care is difficult to access and afford for refugees. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is able to provide emergency and primary health care, but lacks the financial resources to deal with complex cases. Additionally, with refugees arriving from Palestine, the health care system must be reconstructed to accommodate up to 50,000 more people.
The already fragile health of refugees is put in further danger during the summer months. Lack of access to clean water and sanitary treatment conditions is the main immediate issue, according to Oxfam. The majority of refugees live in shelters with few resources. Without toilets or proper garbage disposal, the hot summer weather could make these shelters incubators for disease. Sanitary accommodations would reduce the risk of disease development. While these are costly measures, Oxfam reasons that, in reality, Syrian refugees will likely not be returning to Syria anytime soon, so in order to create more comfortable and healthier conditions, greater measures must be made.
– Bridget Tobin
Sources: Oxfam, World Health Organization 1, World Health Organization 2, Amnesty International, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Photo: CBS News