n March 2011, the Syrian government violently responded to public demonstrations in support of the Arab Spring. Since then, more than half of all Syrians have been forced to flee their homes because of ongoing war — 6.6 million have fled the country (many to neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey) and 6.1 million more have been driven from their homes but remain in Syria.
Syrian refugees are living in urban centers, in makeshift shelters, and informal settlements in places like Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley where I spent a week with SAMS (Syrian American Medical Society), a global medical relief organization, working on the front lines to save lives and alleviate suffering.
Every morning, different families would open their homes, allowing us to set up clinics with an aim to provide quality medical care including reproductive health, pediatrics, and general checkups. Even with having lost so much, they would offer us food, tea, and share whatever they had. In just one week, we were able to provide medical care to over 1400 refugees.
My time in medical school has taught me that there is always a lesson to be learned if you stop and listen. Talking to the children in the settlements, the first question they would ask is what is your favorite soccer team? Naturally, I told them Liverpool FC to which they always cheered. The refugees are just like us: each has a story, they are part of a community, they enjoy watching and playing sports, and they have dreams and aspirations. The only difference is the circumstances they endure in countries that are not equipped to meet their needs.
As a recent graduate pursuing global health, I know that a small act can make a difference. Please consider donating to SAMS at their website (sams-usa.net/donate), or supporting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the fight to protect vulnerable people.
Sincerely,
Soubhi Alhayek, MD
AUC Class 2019