Health Needs Beyond Return: Healthcare for Syrian Refugees — Policy Brief

This policy brief, Health Needs Beyond Return: Sustaining Healthcare for Syrian Refugees in Zaatari Camp amid Political Transition and Funding Constraints (February 15, 2026), examines the ongoing health needs of approximately 65,000 Syrian refugees who remain in Zaatari Camp, Jordan, despite increased returns to Syria following political developments in late 2024. Drawing on findings from a January 2026 SAMS assessment, the brief highlights a persistent burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma; widespread and largely unmet mental health needs; and significant structural barriers to care, including medication shortages, referral delays, mobility challenges, and out-of-pocket costs. Nearly half of households with chronic conditions report difficulty accessing medicines or services, while mental health support remains limited and often crisis-driven rather than continuous.

At the same time, severe funding shortfalls—particularly in the health sector—are undermining continuity of care. The brief cautions against prematurely scaling down health programming based on assumptions of widespread return and emphasizes that many refugees are medically unprepared to return due to the need for reliable, ongoing treatment. It calls for sustained, needs-based financing; strengthened chronic disease management; integrated mental health services; reduced structural barriers; improved coordination among providers; and the incorporation of individualized medical readiness assessments into return planning to protect health, dignity, and stability during this transitional period.

Read Health Needs Beyond Return: Healthcare for Syrian Refugees — Policy Brief