Building resilience: Rehabilitation and psychosocial support

Following the 2011 crisis in Syria, Türkiye saw a significant refugee influx. These refugees faced challenges such as limited access to essential services, language barriers between beneficiaries and service providers, and pressure on Türkiye's health system.

Over 50,000 refugees with disabilities had difficulties accessing healthcare. An analysis by the Independent Doctors Association (IDA) showed limited access to physiotherapy for Syrian war-wounded individuals with disabilities, mainly due to long waiting times and language barriers.

In Kilis province, nearly 72,000 refugees live alongside approximately 147,000 locals, marking Türkiye’s highest refugee-to-host-community ratio of 33%. The majority of these migrants count as the most vulnerable, facing numerous hardships with limited local services. The earthquake on February 6, 2023 further amplified healthcare demands, highlighting the urgent need for physiotherapy and psychosocial support.

Our goal is to support vulnerable refugees with rehabilitation and psychosocial help, in order to reduce the pressure on the local health infrastructure. Our measures not only improve personal situations, but also support integration, enabling refugees to engage positively in their communities. 

• Operating a rehabilitation center providing physiotherapy to improve mobility and functionality.
• Psychosocial support to improve well-being, particularly for people affected by war trauma and stigmatization.
• Conducting individual conversation therapies and counselling for patients and family members that are taking care of physiotherapy patients.
• Operating mobile medical units.