1. Event Description:

Four months have passed since a devastating earthquake struck Syria, causing significant loss of life, displacement, and damage to infrastructure. The Brussels VII Conference this year comes at a critical time with humanitarian needs at an all-time high following the earthquakes and with over a decade of conflict, and in many areas of Syria, the earthquakes have further emphasized the weaknesses of an overburdened health system after 12 years of crisis. Health actors played a crucial role in the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes to ensure access to health care and delivering health supplies and other life-saving supplies to affected populations.

20. White Helmets and Médecins du Monde Türkiye/ Dünya Doktorları Derneği

, are organizing a panel discussion to reflect on lessons learned from the health sector’s response efforts to the earthquakes, and early recovery process to facilitate this reflection and promote knowledge sharing.

2. Objectives

This side-event aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. Review response efforts: discuss the effectiveness and timeliness of the earthquake health response, including international and local coordination efforts, and rehabilitation measures implemented in the aftermath of the disaster.
2. Identify challenges and gaps: Analyze the challenges encountered by international and local actors during the response and recovery phases, including issues related to coordination, resource mobilization, information management, needs assessments, and the provision of essential services.
3. Share best practices: Promote the exchange of best practices and successful strategies employed by various stakeholders, including government agencies, humanitarian organizations, local communities, and international partners.
4. Enhance future preparedness: Derive lessons to strengthen future earthquake preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, emphasizing the importance of community resilience-building, risk reduction, and community engagement.
5. Inform policy development: Provide insights and recommendations for health actors, and policymakers to integrate lessons learned into the Brussels Conference process.

3. Format

This side-event will feature a moderated panel discussion between Syrian civil society organizations, international humanitarian organizations operating in Syria, and state representatives. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session.

Preliminary panelist list:

• Raed Al-Saleh, Director, the White Helmets
• Mustafa El Othman, Médecins du Monde Türkiye/ Dünya Doktorları Derneği
• David Carden, OCHA Syria Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator
• TBC-  Humanity and Inclusion
• TBC-  The Syrian American Medical Society, SAMS
• TBC - Donor co-sponsor
• Dr. Abdulkarim Ekzayez, King’s College London