The Free Directorate of Health in Hama on Sunday said that 200,000 civilians in northern and western rural Hama, one third of whom are children, are at risk of being left without access to medical services following a decision by donors to suspend support for health projects in those areas.
Communications Officer for the Directorate, Ibrahim Al-Shamali, told Smart News Network that support has been suspended since the beginning of January. The decision will affect the medical and administrative staff as well as the healthcare facilities run by the Directorate, including four health centers, two specialized hospitals and a blood bank.
Al-Shamali said that the healthcare facilities of the Directorate are currently operating voluntarily, pending the securing of support from other donors to provide medical services or pay operational expenses and salaries for medical personnel.
The Directorate appealed to the concerned sides to resume the provision of aid, stressing that it is a neutral humanitarian institution that has nothing to do with the military and political altercations in the area. It said that it is providing free medical services for civilians.
The Directorate of Health in Aleppo on Friday warned that the suspension of support for 43 healthcare facilities in western and southern rural Aleppo will leave about 250,000 civilians without access to medical services.
Likewise in Idlib, the Free Directorate of Health said that the decision by some donor organizations to suspend support for health projects will leave around 80,000 beneficiaries without access to medical services. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
