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Companions of Patients at Children’s Hospital Sleep on Sidewalks in Damascus
A number of relatives of sick children arriving from various provinces are forced to sleep outdoors near the Children’s Hospital in Damascus after failing to afford hotel accommodation or find an available place inside the overcrowded hospital. The surrounding sidewalks and passageways have become a temporary refuge for these companions, some of whom remain there for days or even weeks until their children complete treatment.
These scenes reflect the extent of the suffering Syrians endure in their search for medical care, amid rising costs and the declining financial capacity of many families. The companions rely on very simple means for sleeping, such as used cardboard and old blankets, to secure temporary shelter that protects them from the cold of night and the burden of staying in the capital.
In one case, Omar Mulla Rashid, originally from Al-Bukamal, stands beside a small stall selling drinks and cigarettes near the hospital in an effort to help cover part of the cost of his three-year-old daughter’s treatment. The child underwent a bone marrow transplant last May after being diagnosed with cancer, before being referred to the Balsam Association to secure accommodation and continue treatment. Omar is forced to work there for a daily wage, while his daughter stays in free housing designated for children, provided by the association.
These cases reflect a difficult healthcare reality experienced by broad segments of Syrians, where securing treatment becomes a strenuous journey no less painful than the illness itself, amid heavy pressure on public hospitals, a shortage of staff and resources, and a growing number of patients day by day.
