Correspondence
We declare no competing interests.
*Satchit Balsari, Josyann Abisaab, Kathleen Hamill, Jennifer Leaning [email protected] François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA (SB, KH, JL); and Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA (SB, JA) 1
2
3
4
5
6
Barnard A. As refugee tide swells, Lebanon plans a visa requirement for Syrians. The New York Times (New York), Jan 2, 2015. http://www.nytimes. com/2015/01/03/world/as-refugee-tide-swellslebanon-plans-a-visa-requirement-for-syrians. html?_r=0 (accessed Feb 19, 2015). Sherlock R. Jordan repeals free medical aid for Syrian refugees. The Telegraph (London), Nov 28, 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11261468/ Jordan-repeals-free-medical-aid-for-Syrianrefugees.html (accessed Feb 19, 2015). International Labor Organization. ILO response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan and Lebanon. March 2014. http://www.ilo.org/ wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---robeirut/documents/genericdocument/ wcms_240438.pdf (accessed Jan 27, 2015). 2014 Syria regional response plan Jordan. UNHCR 2014. http://www.unhcr.org/ syriarrp6/docs/syria-rrp6-jordan-responseplan.pdf (accessed Feb 26, 2015). 3RP regional refugee & resilience plan 2015– 2016 in response to the Syria crisis. UNHCR and UNDP, 2015. http://www.jo.undp.org/ content/dam/jordan/docs/Publications/3RPReport-Overview.pdf (accessed Jan 28, 2015). Guterres A. Think the aid system can cope? It can’t. World Economic Forum, Jan 18, 2015. https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/01/thinkthe-aid-system-can-cope-it-cant/ (accessed Jan 29, 2015).
4 years of the humanitarian tragedy in Syria: who cares? While the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen in Syria, the international community’s support continues to weaken. Since December, 2013, at least 16 Syrian children and newborns have been reported to have frozen www.thelancet.com Vol 385 March 14, 2015
to death within the refugee camps bordering Syria and inside the country, including seven Syrian children and newborns who have frozen to death in the 2nd week of January, 2015 alone.1,2 The fact that in the 21st century, cold weather can still claim the lives of children and destroy many other lives is outrageous, yet in Syria this occurrence is commonplace, while the rest of the world watches on. The tragedy in Syria continues to substantially affect many Syrian people’s access to quality health care, including the Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. About 207 000 people, most of whom are civilians, have been killed,3 and by the end of 2014, according to UNICEF4 at least 7 million Syrian children (including nearly 2 million registered children refugees)5 had been substantially affected. How is it that the Ebola outbreak, (which has caused 8641 deaths, as of Jan 21) 6 has attracted more attention and relief efforts than the tragedy in Syria, which has caused more than 200 000 deaths? How many Syrian refugee children need to die before the world decides to take action? How many innocent people need to be killed and how many millions of Syrians need to be displaced before the world decides to intervene? Has the time not come for the international community to take action to alleviate this tragedy? Has the time not come for the UN to exert pressure on the political leaders of the world to end this humanitarian crisis and its tragic health effects? Many unanswered questions exist, and much needs to happen from those who care about a crisis that has claimed more than 200 000 people’s lives, displaced more than 10 million people,5 and made nearly 2 million children refugees. The time has come—the world needs to do more to help Syrian children. I declare no competing interests.
Humam Saltaji [email protected]
Orthodontic Graduate Clinic, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada 1
2
3
4
5
6
Syrian observatory for human rights. Extreme cold kills 11 Syrians in a week. Jan 14, 2015. http://syriahr.com/en/2015/01/extreme-coldkills-11-syrians-in-a-week (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Syrian Network for Human Rights. 9 Syrian Children…died because of cold bitterly cold temperature. Dec 12, 2013. http://sn4hr.org/ blog/2013/12/12/9-syrian-children-diedbecause-of-cold-bitterly-cold-temperature (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Perry T. No deaths reported in Syria as storm quells fighting. Jan 8, 2015. http://www.reuters. com/article/2015/01/08/us-mideast-crisissyria-weather-idUSKBN0KH0PK20150108 (accessed Jan 12, 2015). UNICEF. UNICEF steps up assistance for children in Middle East affected by brutal winter. Jan 13, 2015. http://www.unicefusa. org/press/releases/unicef-steps-assistancechildren-middle-east-affected-brutalwinter/21191 (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Huber C, Reid K. War in Syria, children, and the refugee crisis. Jan 14, 2015. http://www. worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/faqswar-syria-children-and-refugee-crisis (accessed Jan 27, 2015). WHO. Ebola situation report. Jan 21, 2015. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/ situation-reports/en/?m=20150121 (accessed Jan 27, 2015).
Associated Press
swift intervention. The humanitarian imperative is not likely to outweigh safety and profit. It is therefore crucial that donor countries fulfil their commitments, and the new development-centric Regional Plans be given a genuine chance. Failure to do so will cause unconscionable suffering and misery to millions.
Hearing loss: a global health issue The deaf-blind American author Helen Keller once said “Blindness separates people from things. Deafness separates people from people.” Roughly 360 million people around the world are living lives separated from others because of hearing loss.1 32 million are children. If their condition is not identified and given appropriate treatment early in life, these children often face delays in development of speech, language, and cognitive skills, with knock-on effects such as learning difficulties in school. 90% of people with disabling hearing loss are adults, and nearly two-thirds of these individuals are aged 70 years or older.2 Increasing evidence has associated hearing loss in older adults with increased risk of dementia and disability.3,4
Published Online March 3, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(15)60208-2
Published Online March 4, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(15)60166-0 See Special Report page 931 See Perspectives page 935
943
We declare no competing interests.
*Satchit Balsari, Josyann Abisaab, Kathleen Hamill, Jennifer Leaning [email protected] François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA (SB, KH, JL); and Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA (SB, JA) 1
2
3
4
5
6
Barnard A. As refugee tide swells, Lebanon plans a visa requirement for Syrians. The New York Times (New York), Jan 2, 2015. http://www.nytimes. com/2015/01/03/world/as-refugee-tide-swellslebanon-plans-a-visa-requirement-for-syrians. html?_r=0 (accessed Feb 19, 2015). Sherlock R. Jordan repeals free medical aid for Syrian refugees. The Telegraph (London), Nov 28, 2014. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11261468/ Jordan-repeals-free-medical-aid-for-Syrianrefugees.html (accessed Feb 19, 2015). International Labor Organization. ILO response to the Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan and Lebanon. March 2014. http://www.ilo.org/ wcmsp5/groups/public/---arabstates/---robeirut/documents/genericdocument/ wcms_240438.pdf (accessed Jan 27, 2015). 2014 Syria regional response plan Jordan. UNHCR 2014. http://www.unhcr.org/ syriarrp6/docs/syria-rrp6-jordan-responseplan.pdf (accessed Feb 26, 2015). 3RP regional refugee & resilience plan 2015– 2016 in response to the Syria crisis. UNHCR and UNDP, 2015. http://www.jo.undp.org/ content/dam/jordan/docs/Publications/3RPReport-Overview.pdf (accessed Jan 28, 2015). Guterres A. Think the aid system can cope? It can’t. World Economic Forum, Jan 18, 2015. https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/01/thinkthe-aid-system-can-cope-it-cant/ (accessed Jan 29, 2015).
4 years of the humanitarian tragedy in Syria: who cares? While the humanitarian crisis continues to worsen in Syria, the international community’s support continues to weaken. Since December, 2013, at least 16 Syrian children and newborns have been reported to have frozen www.thelancet.com Vol 385 March 14, 2015
to death within the refugee camps bordering Syria and inside the country, including seven Syrian children and newborns who have frozen to death in the 2nd week of January, 2015 alone.1,2 The fact that in the 21st century, cold weather can still claim the lives of children and destroy many other lives is outrageous, yet in Syria this occurrence is commonplace, while the rest of the world watches on. The tragedy in Syria continues to substantially affect many Syrian people’s access to quality health care, including the Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. About 207 000 people, most of whom are civilians, have been killed,3 and by the end of 2014, according to UNICEF4 at least 7 million Syrian children (including nearly 2 million registered children refugees)5 had been substantially affected. How is it that the Ebola outbreak, (which has caused 8641 deaths, as of Jan 21) 6 has attracted more attention and relief efforts than the tragedy in Syria, which has caused more than 200 000 deaths? How many Syrian refugee children need to die before the world decides to take action? How many innocent people need to be killed and how many millions of Syrians need to be displaced before the world decides to intervene? Has the time not come for the international community to take action to alleviate this tragedy? Has the time not come for the UN to exert pressure on the political leaders of the world to end this humanitarian crisis and its tragic health effects? Many unanswered questions exist, and much needs to happen from those who care about a crisis that has claimed more than 200 000 people’s lives, displaced more than 10 million people,5 and made nearly 2 million children refugees. The time has come—the world needs to do more to help Syrian children. I declare no competing interests.
Humam Saltaji [email protected]
Orthodontic Graduate Clinic, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada 1
2
3
4
5
6
Syrian observatory for human rights. Extreme cold kills 11 Syrians in a week. Jan 14, 2015. http://syriahr.com/en/2015/01/extreme-coldkills-11-syrians-in-a-week (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Syrian Network for Human Rights. 9 Syrian Children…died because of cold bitterly cold temperature. Dec 12, 2013. http://sn4hr.org/ blog/2013/12/12/9-syrian-children-diedbecause-of-cold-bitterly-cold-temperature (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Perry T. No deaths reported in Syria as storm quells fighting. Jan 8, 2015. http://www.reuters. com/article/2015/01/08/us-mideast-crisissyria-weather-idUSKBN0KH0PK20150108 (accessed Jan 12, 2015). UNICEF. UNICEF steps up assistance for children in Middle East affected by brutal winter. Jan 13, 2015. http://www.unicefusa. org/press/releases/unicef-steps-assistancechildren-middle-east-affected-brutalwinter/21191 (accessed Jan 27, 2015). Huber C, Reid K. War in Syria, children, and the refugee crisis. Jan 14, 2015. http://www. worldvision.org/news-stories-videos/faqswar-syria-children-and-refugee-crisis (accessed Jan 27, 2015). WHO. Ebola situation report. Jan 21, 2015. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/ situation-reports/en/?m=20150121 (accessed Jan 27, 2015).
Associated Press
swift intervention. The humanitarian imperative is not likely to outweigh safety and profit. It is therefore crucial that donor countries fulfil their commitments, and the new development-centric Regional Plans be given a genuine chance. Failure to do so will cause unconscionable suffering and misery to millions.
Hearing loss: a global health issue The deaf-blind American author Helen Keller once said “Blindness separates people from things. Deafness separates people from people.” Roughly 360 million people around the world are living lives separated from others because of hearing loss.1 32 million are children. If their condition is not identified and given appropriate treatment early in life, these children often face delays in development of speech, language, and cognitive skills, with knock-on effects such as learning difficulties in school. 90% of people with disabling hearing loss are adults, and nearly two-thirds of these individuals are aged 70 years or older.2 Increasing evidence has associated hearing loss in older adults with increased risk of dementia and disability.3,4
Published Online March 3, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(15)60208-2
Published Online March 4, 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(15)60166-0 See Special Report page 931 See Perspectives page 935
943
