Name: Shai Fund, Inc.
Price range: $

Project Overview

The Need

For generations, Christians have been able to live peacefully in al-Qahtaniyah, a sub-district of Al-Qamishli. Al-Qahtaniyah, which is located on the Syrian-Turkish border, is home to 99 Christian families who have to continuously flee Turkish aggression. Once the situation has calmed slightly, they return to deal with the damage. Turkey's ongoing attacks, including on Christmas Eve 2023, keep these families in limbo and in a constant state of stress.

The Turkish airstrikes continue to this day under the pretext of creating a security zone in north-eastern Syria. The nearest hospital is in al-Qamishli, which can be a difficult drive due to the road conditions. With the airstrikes, even getting to the hospital is risky. The current drone attacks by Turkey have succeeded in weakening the region with much of the infrastructure destroyed. The residents of Northeastern Syria are now suffering from water shortages, electricity shortages, and high inflation. Having a clinic nearby saves precious time in life-or-death emergencies.

The Emergency Medical Center established by the Shai Fund is located in the predominantly Christian area of the al-Qahtaniya sub-district in Syria, where residents face ongoing threats due to conflict, particularly from Turkish military operations. The clinic plays a vital life-saving role in an isolated area which has very limited access to healthcare. Before the clinic existed, residents were forced to travel dangerous roads to reach the nearest hospital. This project aims to provide immediate medical care, reduce the risks associated with travelling through war zones, and preserve the presence of Christian communities.

The Solution

In response to a serious lack of specific emergency aid in the area, the Shai Fund established a medical clinic in coordination with local doctors, to serve those in the area. The clinic has been operational since August 2023, offering essential healthcare services, including internal medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, X-ray services, laboratory analyses, and a pharmacy. The clinic is equipped with a well-functioning ambulance to transport patients to larger hospitals when necessary, and it offers a crucial training ground for young medical professionals in the area.

Urgent Funding Needed

This clinic serves as a lifeline for thousands of patients, providing critical care close to home. Failing to maintain the clinic in this location will certainly lead to many fatal casualties. Funding is urgently required to keep the clinic operational. The project has already incurred expenses and relies heavily on additional funding to continue its services. The cessation of a significant portion of funding in December 2023 has placed the clinic at risk of closure, threatening to dismantle the progress made in providing essential healthcare to a vulnerable population.

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Project Details

In the first six months of the project from July 2022, both the premises and an ambulance were purchased. The building for the medical clinic was completely renovated. This first phase was completed between July and October of 2022.

The ambulance transports the most urgent emergencies, which are often heart attacks and strokes. Without this service, many would not have survived. The presence of a well-equipped ambulance is an integral part of the Syriac Cross Medical Clinic.

Since October 2022, the ambulance has been on call and therefore constantly in operational condition. The ambulance responds to at least 5 medical emergencies per week, about 20 per month. With the ambulance, the Syriac Cross Medical Clinic has become a vital medical facility for the region.

Between January and June of 2023, the second phase was completed. Solar panels were installed, medical equipment and supplies were procured, and doctors and nurses were hired so they could begin providing medical services to the community.

By August 2023 the clinic became fully operational with well-equipped medical staff.

The comprehensive facilities include various departments for internal medicine, paediatrics, and gynaecology. The medical clinic also has a special department for X-rays, laboratory analyses, and a pharmacy.

The medical clinic serves up to 30 patients a day. Since June 2023, the clinic team has treated 4,252 patients, among them 765 emergencies. According to capacity, these emergencies were treated on-site or transported by ambulance to a hospital in al-Qamishli or al-Hassaka.

On the 6th of August 2023, the official opening of the clinic took place and was attended by the Former Chair of USCIRF; Nadine Maenza, a renowned advocate for international religious freedom. Nadine Maenza acknowledged the pivotal role the clinic plays in meeting the healthcare needs of a substantial number of citizens.

We are now in need of additional funding to maintain the clinic and keep the various medical departments open.

The Emergency Medical Center is now focused on maintaining its operations while expanding its capacity to serve the community effectively. This includes continuing and enhancing medical services in internal medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, radiology, and laboratory analysis. Additionally, the clinic aims to build capacity by training and retaining local medical professionals, ensuring it remains a reliable healthcare provider in the region.

To achieve operational sustainability, the center is actively working to secure funding to cover essential costs such as salaries for medical staff, fuel for the ambulance, and other operational expenses. This financial support is critical to maintaining the clinic’s ability to provide vital healthcare services to the community.