Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles
The Syrian Civil War has resulted in significant devastation, including widespread displacement of millions and extensive damage to infrastructure, particularly healthcare infrastructure. Attacks on healthcare facilities have been frequent, leading to a drastic reduction in available medical service...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1560063/full |
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| author | Ahmad A. Alnasser Mohammad Darwish Ahmed Aldbis Camila Polinori Camila Polinori Shatha Elnakib Saverio Bellizzi Daher Zedan Bara Zuhaili |
| author_facet | Ahmad A. Alnasser Mohammad Darwish Ahmed Aldbis Camila Polinori Camila Polinori Shatha Elnakib Saverio Bellizzi Daher Zedan Bara Zuhaili |
| author_sort | Ahmad A. Alnasser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Syrian Civil War has resulted in significant devastation, including widespread displacement of millions and extensive damage to infrastructure, particularly healthcare infrastructure. Attacks on healthcare facilities have been frequent, leading to a drastic reduction in available medical services and the exodus of healthcare workers. The resulting impact on civilians, compounded by energy shortages, has been severe, limiting access to essential services. In response to these challenges, the Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organizations (UOSSM) has introduced the solar-powered electric vehicles for healthcare transportation in Northwest Syria. This development is a significant step toward sustainable energy solutions in conflict zones, providing a reliable source of power for essential services such as healthcare delivery. In this paper, we document this experience which underscores the importance of local involvement and partnerships in implementing such solutions, as well as the need for broader research and education initiatives to ensure the long-term viability of renewable energy systems. These initiatives allow for a sustainable future solution while enabling local actors to participate in their development and maintenance. By prioritizing sustainability and autonomy, initiatives like UOSSM’s solar-powered electric car demonstrate the potential for innovative responses to complex humanitarian crises around the world, following Syria’s example. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5a7d0c17cedd44daad2200b7a3ade7cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-5a7d0c17cedd44daad2200b7a3ade7cd2025-08-20T03:09:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-04-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15600631560063Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehiclesAhmad A. Alnasser0Mohammad Darwish1Ahmed Aldbis2Camila Polinori3Camila Polinori4Shatha Elnakib5Saverio Bellizzi6Daher Zedan7Bara Zuhaili8Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesCenter for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesUnion for Medical and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), Gaziantep, TürkiyeJohns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesCenter for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesCenter for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, ItalyUnion for Medical and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), Gaziantep, TürkiyeCenter for Humanitarian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United StatesThe Syrian Civil War has resulted in significant devastation, including widespread displacement of millions and extensive damage to infrastructure, particularly healthcare infrastructure. Attacks on healthcare facilities have been frequent, leading to a drastic reduction in available medical services and the exodus of healthcare workers. The resulting impact on civilians, compounded by energy shortages, has been severe, limiting access to essential services. In response to these challenges, the Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organizations (UOSSM) has introduced the solar-powered electric vehicles for healthcare transportation in Northwest Syria. This development is a significant step toward sustainable energy solutions in conflict zones, providing a reliable source of power for essential services such as healthcare delivery. In this paper, we document this experience which underscores the importance of local involvement and partnerships in implementing such solutions, as well as the need for broader research and education initiatives to ensure the long-term viability of renewable energy systems. These initiatives allow for a sustainable future solution while enabling local actors to participate in their development and maintenance. By prioritizing sustainability and autonomy, initiatives like UOSSM’s solar-powered electric car demonstrate the potential for innovative responses to complex humanitarian crises around the world, following Syria’s example.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1560063/fullsolar powerhumanitarian accessrenewable energyconflict zoneSyria |
| spellingShingle | Ahmad A. Alnasser Mohammad Darwish Ahmed Aldbis Camila Polinori Camila Polinori Shatha Elnakib Saverio Bellizzi Daher Zedan Bara Zuhaili Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles Frontiers in Public Health solar power humanitarian access renewable energy conflict zone Syria |
| title | Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles |
| title_full | Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles |
| title_short | Renewable resilience in conflict: lessons learned from Syria’s solar-powered electric health vehicles |
| title_sort | renewable resilience in conflict lessons learned from syria s solar powered electric health vehicles |
| topic | solar power humanitarian access renewable energy conflict zone Syria |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1560063/full |
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