Investment in Cancer Prevention and Care for Forcibly Displaced Syrians Is an Urgent Priority

The international community is failing forcibly displaced people in cancer prevention and care. Despite the significant burden that cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) weigh on internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugee populations, international organizations have been unable to devote adequate resources to address these issues and have historically concentrated on communicable diseases prevention among the forcibly displaced. The Arab spring and related conflicts and forced displacement have catalyzed discussions in the humanitarian sector about the needs for prevention, diagnosis, and management of cancer and other NCDs. However, there remain challenges related to underresourcing, deprioritization of chronic diseases (particularly those without overt or immediate symptoms), difficulties following up transient populations, and in some instances a lack of expertize. Despite efforts to invest in primary health care for displaced populations, significant underresourcing continues to prevent the development of comprehensive strategies targeting cancer and other NCDs. The lack of resources, including funding, expertize, diagnostics, and therapeutics, negatively effects the three main domains of cancer mortality prevention: primary prevention, early diagnosis and screening, and cancer management.