Women’s Health Under Daesh

We’ve recently looked at women’s domestic lives and education under Daesh law, which is a life of excruciating suffocation to say the least. A deeply unstable region which millions have been forced to flee from, Syria is also now becoming a hotbed for new – and sometimes rare – diseases. Civil war and the breakdown of the health system, escalated by the actions of Daesh, have meant that people are ill-equipped to deal with the extent of health concerns in the country.

Women’s health under Daesh is horrific. Medical facilities including maternity wards are incredibly rundown, but the problem goes beyond women-specific concerns.

Earlier this month, the terrorist organisation issued health warnings after an outbreak of Swine Flu (H1N1) in Raqqa, Syria. Reports state that at least a dozen people have been killed, while basic hand wash instructions are being handed out to people on the streets which illustrates the extent of the problem. This is just the latest in a series of deadly viruses to take hold of the area.

Other conditions associated with Daesh’s brutal methods have recently surfaced. Some have claimed that Daesh’s practice of leaving dead bodies on the street has increased the instances of “Leishmaniasis” – a disease carried by the bite of sand flies. The World Health Organisation says that this flesh-eating condition in its various forms can lead to disability or death.

The increasing number of these cases proves that the so-called national health system which Daesh claims to be operating is a complete failure. While the group have made desperate attempts to recruit western doctors, these have been largely unsuccessful. The infrastructure is a mess and disease is rife; all of this is very much to the detriment of women and wider society.

If you’re concerned that a family member or friend is considering travelling to Syria, please see our ‘where to turn’ page.