Germany announces hospital partnership with Syria
Minister Schulze promises support for healthcare system and schools

Damascus (dpa) - The German government is supporting the people in Syria with hospital partnerships designed to help improve the provision of healthcare services. In the capital Damascus, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze met with representatives of the transitional government, doctors and de facto Health Minister Maher al-Sharaa, a brother of the new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa. The hospital partnerships that Germany is already funding with 52 countries are about sharing knowledge and experience. Doctors from Germany are to travel to Syria to offer further training courses there or practise using new equipment with local colleagues. Further training in Germany is also a possibility.
A new beginning will only be successful “if people in Syria are able to feed themselves, send their children to school and have access to healthcare,” Schulze said. She stressed: “If we support schools, all children must be allowed to go to school - no matter what their religion or whether they are girls or boys.”