Yemen, Syria, and Egypt Face EMT Classification Hurdles

Why this is here: The study included interviews with stakeholders from five low- and middle-income countries in the MENA region—Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and Tunisia—to understand their unique challenges.

Researchers completed a qualitative study with seventeen emergency medical team stakeholders in Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and at the IFRC regional office. They explored barriers to classifying emergency medical teams according to World Health Organization standards. Participants agreed classification boosts quality and credibility, but found the process long and difficult.

The study revealed challenges with rigid global standards, especially regarding logistics and self-sufficiency. A lack of formal training and mentorship also slowed progress. Bureaucracy and limited resources within organizations created additional obstacles.

Strong leadership, technical expertise, and experience deploying teams helped overcome these issues. The researchers suggest adapting global standards to better fit local contexts and building institutional capacity through training. Further work is needed to establish a strong emergency response network in the region.