Edinburg, TX- Another hospital was hit by an airstrike just a few hours ago. The Syrian Relief (UOSSM affiliate) maternity hospital, supported by Save the Children, is in Kafer Takhareem (Idlib). The hospital provides services to 1300 women and almost 300 deliveries a month. The nearest hospital to this area is 43 miles away, again depriving civilians of access to medical care. At least five civilians were killed and 13 wounded in the attack.
The Sikary area in the besieged area of Aleppo was also targeted today, causing major destruction. The photo below shows children running from the scene, “Just look at those kids faces as they are running, they look so afraid,” said Dr. Aziz an UOSSM General Surgeon from Aleppo.
In the past 10 days, 4 hospitals and a blood bank in Aleppo were attacked by air strikes leaving the majority of the population without access to health care. After six years the conflict has entered a new level of atrocity with the use of heavy artillery and airstrikes targeting civilian areas. Over 500,000 Syrians have died and more than 1,000,000 now have some type of disability such as amputated limbs, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. Military policies such as food deprivation, the destruction of health care facilities and the targeting of media/medical staff are being used to inflict even more suffering.
international community and the UN, failed to protect 1,000,000 Rwandans. History remembers this. We cannot make the same mistake again. ” Dr. Nott has worked with UOSSM/ Syrian Relief in Syria throughout the civil unrest.
In the past 5 years, at least 650 medical workers have lost their lives and hospitals have faced hundreds of military and aerial attacks. In 2015, 250 attacks damaged or completely destroyed hospitals and health facilities.
In 2016, more than 80 hospitals and medical points were targeted, and over 80 health and humanitarian workers were killed, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. The targeting of medical workers has provoked a situation in which we estimate 10,000 specialized doctors have fled the country, causing a massive breakdown in the health care system and 40% of the population without access to primary health care. “It is crucial that the international community puts a stop to these indiscriminate attacks, which is a clear violation of international laws, and is wreaking havoc on the whole health care system in Syria,” said Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of UOSSM USA.
