The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) appealed to the UN Security Council and the international community to enforce UN Resolution 2286 calling for the protection of medical facilities and relief aid workers. It called for emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation in northwestern Syria which is coming under intensified bombing campaign by the Assad regime and Russian forces.
In a press release it issued on its Facebook page on Sunday, UOSSM said it observed a significant increase in airstrikes and shelling in Idlib and Hama provinces in the past 72 hours. It said that the bombing campaign has killed at least 77 civilians and forced more than 150,000 others from their homes over the past week.
The majority of towns and villages in northern rural Hama were deserted as a result of the violent bombing campaign. It noted that the fleeing civilians are settling in overcrowded areas lacking enough shelters and housing for the new arrivals.
Five medical facilities and five schools were put out of service over the past week, UOSSM added. It also said that the ongoing bombing campaign has forced several hospitals and schools to suspend their activities, including Al-Lataminah Hospital, Qalet Al-Madiq Hospital, Al-Habeet Primary Medical Care Center, Qastoon Primary Medical Care Center, and the Surgical Unit in Kafranboudah.
The Union went on to say that Idlib province is home to more than 3.5 million people, including 350,000 people who live in IDP camps. The region suffers severe shortages of health care, food, shelter and sanitation and cannot accommodate new waves of displaced people.
The Union warned that the military operations which started on April 26 risked provoking a new refugee crisis that will threaten international peace and security. It stressed the need for the UN Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, to take proactive steps to ensure a halt to the battle for Idlib is and find a peaceful solution to the situation in the province. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
