After the end of Assad's rule, the Syrian health system must also be rebuilt. Development Minister Schulze promises help, for example with clinic partnerships. But it also sets conditions.
Development Minister Svenja Schulze speaks of a historic window of opportunity – she is honoring the achievements of the Syrians in Damascus who managed to overthrow the dictatorial Assad regime. Now it is important to seize the opportunity so that Syria becomes a “democratic, open and tolerant state”.
If she has her way, Germany should support the country in this – and as soon as possible. She also has a concrete offer in her luggage: the establishment of partnerships between hospitals in Germany and Syria.
She also has Syrians who live in Germany in mind: “A lot of people who had to flee the civil war here live in Germany and are part of our health system, for example. A lot of doctors and nurses originally come from Syria,” says Schulze .
According to the SPD politician, these doctors and nurses could help bring the clinical partnerships supported by their ministry to life. With their skills and language skills when it comes to further education or training on new equipment.
Hospitals damaged by bombing
During the war, the Assad regime is said to have targeted hospitals and health centers in areas controlled by insurgents – many hospitals are still only functioning to a limited extent.
Germany can provide support here, said Schulze in Damascus. But the help is not unconditional – neither in the health nor in the education sector.
“If we support schools, all children must be allowed to go to school. No matter what religion they have or whether they are girls or boys,” said Schulze. “If we create clinic partnerships here, then it is completely clear to us that everyone must be able to use the clinic. And that is something that the Minister of Health has just promised – and where we have to start now.”
Minister of Health and rulers are brothers
Syria's health minister is called Maher al-Sharaa, he is the brother of the current ruler. Who in turn – without a specific function – still stands above the ministers of the transitional government.
They all come from Haiat Tahrir al-Sham, an Islamist militia alliance. Many of them have a history with brutal jihadist groups such as IS or Al Qaeda.
Will the new rulers pursue an Islamist agenda with their policies? Rima Najib is definitely worried about that. She runs a girls' school in Damascus and says: “I would like us to completely separate religion and state. We have to respect the diversity in our country so that our country develops further and so that no one is oppressed. Otherwise we would just be a copy of the created by the old regime.”
Despite all the skepticism, for Development Minister Schulze, the ideological background of the leadership in Damascus does not seem to be an obstacle to support for reconstruction. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made similar comments during her visit to Damascus almost two weeks ago.
EU sanctions are hindering rapid aid
However, an actual obstacle to rapid aid are EU sanctions against Syria, which are still in force. There is currently a debate in the EU about its repeal.
Schulze takes a clear position here: “From a development policy perspective, it is important that reconstruction is not hindered by sanctions, that the health system can be stabilized, and that education systems can be advanced. This is something that Germany is committed to.”
Other countries – such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia – are also heavily committed to reconstruction in Syria. They pursue their own interests and are not bound by EU sanctions. The window of opportunity that Schulze keeps talking about could close at some point. It is uncertain whether Syria will actually become a democratic and tolerant state.
