Egypt’s cross-border psychological support for Syrians
A number of Egyptian psychiatrists have launched an online initiative to help Syrians who are suffering from psychological problems as a result of the ongoing war in their country.
![MIDEAST-CRISIS/SYRIA A boy runs near damaged buildings in the rebel held besieged city of Douma, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta, Syria January 19, 2017. REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTSWBM4](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2017/01/RTSWBM4.jpg/RTSWBM4.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=JPcEvnPw)
CAIRO — Syria is witnessing a fierce civil war and massacres that have claimed the lives of so many of its people, such as the Aleppo massacre. The Syrian crisis is not unrelated to civil society in Egypt, as a group of psychotherapists launched on Dec. 14 an initiative to provide free psychotherapy and support sessions online for Syrians affected in war zones. The second phase of the initiative, which entails a new set of sessions, was launched Jan. 10.
Despite the geographic borders, the siege imposed by the Syrian regime and the difficulty of communicating over the internet, more and more Syrians across their country are joining the initiative — surprising even the organizers. Therefore, this initiative sheds light on a new dimension of humanitarian aid for those affected by wars and revolutions.