Syria: Physiotherapy Centre in Deir el-Zor

Staff do their best with limited facilities in city under siege.

Ahmed Abboud

Wednesday, 2 October, 2013

Syria: Physiotherapy Centre in Deir el-Zor

Staff do their best with limited facilities in city under siege.

Sleiman al-Hayess does the rounds at his physiotherapy centre. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

Located in Deir el Zor, under siege from Syrian government forces, the centre lacks the equipment it needs. . (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

One of the patients at the centre. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

A patient recovering from an arm injury receives a massage. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

Sleiman’s brother Mohammad al-Hayess is also a physiotherapist and works at the centre. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

Mohammad al-Hayess treats a patient with a leg injury. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

The physio centre treats patients of all ages. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

The physio centre has to accommodate numerous patients in a small space. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

Sleiman al-Hayess makes do with limited facilities and equipment. (Photo: Ahmed Abboud)

A year ago, physiotherapist Sleiman al-Hayess deserted from the Syrian Army and returned to his native city of Deir el-Zor.

Since then, he has restored an abandoned physiotherapy centre in the Sheikh Yassine area. He has treated more than 70 patients – both civilians and opposition fighters – suffering from muscular atrophy caused by injuries in the conflict.

Photographs by Ahmed Abboud.

This story was produced by the Damascus Bureau, IWPR’s news platform for Syrian journalists.

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Syria: Physiotherapy Centre in Deir el-Zor

Ahmed Abboud