Edinburg, TX- Three medical facilities throughout Syria have been attacked and shut down in the past six hours, causing massive damage, casualties and death. Today, just hours ago two hospitals were targeted. Jasem Hospital in Daraa, partially supported by UOSSM, was hit by a missile right at the emergency room door, causing massive damage. The staff pharmacist, two medical staff and 10 civilians were killed ( including two children and four women). Jasem Hospital provided services to 35,000-40,000 patients a month including specialty services.
The Howar Hospital in the western Aleppo countryside was hit by two missiles and shut down, casualties are still unconfirmed.
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Photos of destruction of Howar Hospital |
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Photos of destruction of Anadan Hospital |
The Forensic Autopsy Lab in Aleppo was targeted today for the third time, killing two and injuring the entire staff.
Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of UOSSM USA said, “Targeting hospitals and medical facilities is a blatant crime against humanity, civilians are left without any access to medical care for miles, causing a rise in unnecessary deaths. In the past week seven medical facilities have been targeted, that’s an average of one a day. The international community must put a stop to this NOW, we cannot afford to stand by and wait as more and more innocent civilians are dying every day.”
There has been a sharp rise in the number of bombings of hospitals and medical facilities in the past few weeks. On Saturday Anadan Hospital was hit by an airstrike in northern Aleppo at 11 p.m. Damascus time, this was the last operating hospital in western rural Aleppo, which served a population of 100,000. UOSSM supports the hospital with medicine and supplies. The hospital had four ICU’s and a maternity ward, and served 5000 patients a month with 100 surgeries and 35 cesarean section deliveries.
On Friday, July 29, the Syrian Relief (UOSSM affiliate) maternity hospital, supported by Save the Children, in Kafer Takhareem (Idlib) was targeted and put out of service. 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.
Over the course of two days, Monday July 18, and Tuesday July 19, the Idlib area was pounded with air raids ultimately leading to the destruction of the Healthcare Department deeming it inoperable. Dr. Sawah called this a major disaster saying, “this will affect tens of thousands of people in Idlib as this is the coordinating body among all healthcare facilities inside the province.”
On Tuesday, July 19, the M10 Hospital, which handled 25% of patients in Aleppo was bombed and shut down due to the extent of damage, an ambulance was also completely destroyed. On Thursday July 14, another major hospital, the M2 was also bombed and put out of service.
Dr. Aziz, an UOSSM General Surgeon in Aleppo said, “Doctors in Aleppo are overwhelmed and depressed. They are trapped in the hospitals and work 18 hour days, with the closing of M2 the medical system is near its breaking point.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) says there have been repeated attacks on over 80 medical facilities and 81 medical staff were killed in the first half of 2016.