Abstract

To the Editor

I am a fourth-year medical student who accompanied my father to the Turkey-Syria border to provide help to Syrian refugees of the civil war in that country. After escaping brutal violence at the hands of their own government, the refugees faced scarce basic necessities and virtually nonexistent medical care and were carrying infection and illness that could easily be cured if only basic care were available: One young man suffered major burns to his thighs and hand from an explosion, a young boy was limping from a minor foot infection, a small girl had an open wound that needed dressing. We organized medical shipments that were donated by relief organizations, explaining their use to healthcare workers, medical administrators, and even veterinary students providing health care in the area.