Updates from the field
Over 18,000 Patients Served by Northeast Syria Medical Clinic
A place of healing and hope since 2023
January 06, 2026 | by McKenzie Hood
Since opening in June 2023 through June 2025, Shai Fund’s Emergency Medical Clinic in al-Qahtaniyah, Northeast Syria treated 18,803 patients, helping families remain in their homes and communities despite ongoing instability. In a region shaped by conflict, economic hardship, and repeated drone and airstrikes, the clinic remained open when access to hospitals was often impossible.
Located just 15 kilometers from the Turkish border, the clinic serves a multi-ethnic community of approximately 17,000 people, including Syriac Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, and Arabs.
From July 2024 to June 2025, the clinic met these milestones:
- 10,007 patients treated, including 2,153 emergency cases
- 168 critical ambulance responses, including childbirth and pediatric emergencies
- Christians and Yazidis received consistent care alongside other vulnerable communities
- 17 local staff employed, strengthening local healthcare capacity
- 120% increase in local revenue, improving sustainability while keeping care affordable
When Care Changes Lives
For many families, the clinic offers more than medical treatment. It offers relief.
Amina, a 30-year-old mother of four, traveled to the clinic with all her young children when they fell ill. Her husband Omar works at a local factory despite a hearing impairment, and the cost of care was a heavy concern. Each child received a full medical examination and the medications they needed, free of charge.
Amina shared, "As a mother, there's nothing harder than seeing your child sick and not knowing how you’ll afford the care they need. But this clinic gave me peace of mind. You didn’t just treat my children, you lifted a huge weight off my heart.”
Her story reflects the experience of countless parents who come to the clinic seeking help and leave with hope.
Comprehensive Care, Close to Home
Staffed by 17 dedicated medical and administrative professionals, the clinic provides internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, laboratory and X-ray services, pharmacy support, and emergency ambulance transport. Patients travel from nearby villages and as far as Qamishli, drawn by the clinic’s quality care and compassion.
In a region where civilian infrastructure has been repeatedly damaged and health systems are overwhelmed, the clinic continues to stand as a place of safety, dignity, and healing.
