From 2–7 October 2023, the Global Health Cluster conducted a mission to Gaziantep, Turkey, to strengthen accountability to affected populations (AAP) in the cross-border region of Syria. The main objective of the mission was to adapt and contextualize the GHC Operational Guidance on AAP (2023) to address the specific challenges in providing healthcare to conflict-affected populations in northern Syria.
The mission had several objectives. It aimed to review and evaluate current AAP strategies and mechanisms, assess the level of involvement of affected populations and local communities, identify strengths, gaps and areas for improvement in accountability, and provide recommendations for increased community participation and feedback mechanisms.
The background context in Gaziantep, Turkey, is characterized by an urgent need for humanitarian assistance in health. These include the ongoing armed conflict, recovery from the earthquake in February 2023, disease outbreaks such as cholera and severe winter weather events.
Social Development International, a Health Cluster partner, provides health services in the Community of Harim located about 5 hours away from Gaziantep. Photo Credit: Health Cluster – October 2023
The mission included a series of visits to various stakeholders within the region, including OCHA, the Health Cluster partners in North-west Syria (NWS), WHO, UNFPA and the Idlib Health Directorate (IHD).
The mission revealed a mixed picture regarding AAP in the NWS response. Some partners excelled in implementing AAP, while others struggled to work effectively with affected populations. All partners were familiar with AAP, but often needed guidance on how to handle feedback and complaints. This lack of guidance risks unresolved issues, unmanageable feedback and lack of follow-up, undermining trust in healthcare providers.
“There is an appetite for further collaboration between health cluster partners, other UN agencies and local organizations. We are trying to make sure that health services adapt to peoples’ needs and that partners involve communities in the health response,” said James Sport, the current AAP Advisor of the GHC.
Visit to the Al Zahrawi Hospital. Photo Credit: Health Cluster/Idlib Health Directorate – October 2023
The Cluster will work with all partners at local and global level to support the improvement of AAP. Specifically in Gaziantep, the Cluster will designate an in-country focal point to support partners in their efforts to achieve this goal, particularly in moving from complaint-based feedback to community engagement outside of health facilities and in implementing the Operational Guidelines and Minimum Standards developed.
The GHC is documenting these efforts to use them as a baseline for future implementation strategies in other countries. The main goal is to improve community relations and accountability to populations served.