Sweida Hospitals in Crisis as Sectarian Violence Engulfs Southern Syria: WHO Sounds Alarm

Hospitals in Syria’s southern Sweida province are buckling under the weight of mounting casualties and dwindling supplies, following weeks of intense sectarian violence, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on July 25. The clashes, which erupted earlier this month between Druze militias, Bedouin groups, and Syrian government forces, have plunged the region into a deep humanitarian crisis.

Speaking from Geneva, WHO representative Christina Bethke described the situation as catastrophic. “Electricity and water are severely disrupted, essential medicines are running out, and medical staff are struggling to access hospitals due to ongoing violence,” she said. The province’s main hospital has been overwhelmed with trauma cases and, at one point, ran out of space in its morgue.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported at least 903 people killed since fighting began in mid-July, including civilians and combatants. Mass executions, targeted killings, and shelling have fueled the death toll, and fears of further escalation persist. Over 145,000 residents have fled their homes, seeking refuge in temporary shelters across Damascus and Daraa.

Despite two WHO convoys reaching the region with emergency medical aid, access remains unstable due to fragmented territorial control and sporadic clashes. Humanitarian workers have reported difficulties reaching affected areas, particularly rural zones where health services have all but collapsed.

The violence began as localized retaliatory attacks but quickly spiraled into full-scale clashes, drawing in Syrian military units. While ceasefire talks mediated by the U.S., Turkey, and Arab nations are underway, no sustained truce has been achieved. As conditions worsen, international health agencies are urging all parties to ensure humanitarian corridors and prioritize civilian safety. Without urgent intervention, health officials warn, Sweida’s medical infrastructure may face irreversible collapse.