UK Channel 4 News: Alum Christina Bethke (SSW’05, SPH’06) Speaks on Behalf of WHO about Closing the Syria Funding Gap
Christina Bethke (SSW’05, SPH’06), emergency response deputy at the World Health Organization (WHO) and BU School of Social Work alum, underscored Syria’s worsening health crisis following the country’s recent regime collapse. In an interview with UK’s Channel 4 News, she shared that over 15 million people need aid, many hospitals are non-functional, and urgent funding is critical. Bethke also called for protecting healthcare workers in Syria, reopening borders for emergency supplies, and addressing compounded challenges like cholera, earthquakes, and ongoing conflict.
Excerpt from “‘It Couldn’t Be More Critical at This Time:’ WHO on Syria Funding Gap” by Krishnan Guru-Murthy:
“Krishnan Guru-Murthy: This is also going to boil down to resources here in Syria. I know you’re dealing with this new transitional government, and they are clearly seeking funding from, you know, perhaps friendly countries outside. They’ve got talks with Qatar and Turkey today. How urgent is it to fill that funding gap?
Christina Bethke: So even before this escalation began, more than 140 health care facilities, mainly in northwest Syria, were facing imminent closure as a result of lack of resources. And for the humanitarian community, we have an annual appeal for the needs. And it was only 25% funded before this all started. So, it couldn’t be more critical at this time.
Krishnan Guru-Murthy: And there could be a big influx of people. There are millions of Syrians who are thinking about coming back.
Christina Bethke: Rightly so. We do expect that, and we worry about ensuring that as a health system already under strain. I mean, we had the earthquake, we’ve had cholera. We’ve had more than half a million people come from Lebanon during that country’s crisis very recently. And now with the tremendous displacement and influx, we’re quite worried about sustaining those health services and helping them deliver life-saving care to people in need.”