Syria’s Evolving Health Crisis and the Impact on its Neighbors

Since Syria’s internal war began two years ago, the accumulating human consequences have been dire, both inside Syria and across the region: an estimated 100,000 people dead; the deliberate targeting of civilians and health infrastructure and medical personnel; mass internal displacement and the mass exodus of refugees to neighboring countries; and a worsening environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Following the August 21 chemical attack outside Damascus, humanitarian and public health capacities are now under new, higher strains and uncertainty.

Please join us for a timely discussion that will analyze events on the ground in Syria, their impact on neighboring states, and the actions of the international community both to meet humanitarian needs and serve the strategic interests of key international actors. The roundtable will feature:

Jon Alterman
Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy; Director, Middle East Program at CSIS

Zaher Sahloul
President of the Syrian American Medical Society

Sophie Delaunay
Executive Director of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the United States

J. Stephen Morrison (Moderator)
Senior Vice President; Director, Global Health Policy Center at CSIS

*This event will be webcast live at www.SmartGlobalHealth.org/Live*