A “significant increase” of air strikes on Syrian hospitals recently has killed at least 35 patients and medical staff and wounded 72, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said on Thursday.
The escalation of attacks by Russia’s air forces, which began in late September, had targeted 12 hospitals in Idlib, Aleppo and Hama provinces, including six supported by MSF, a statement said.
“Overall, six hospitals were forced to close… and four ambulances destroyed,” said the international medical aid group.
“One hospital has since reopened, yet access to emergency, maternity, pediatric and primary health care services remains severely disrupted.”
The statement said “tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes” as a result of the attacks.
Earlier today, the Russian air force struck the only operating field hospital in the town of Douma in rural Damascus, killing 10 people and injuring dozens more.
Dr. Jawad Abu Hatab, a cardiologist based inside Syria and member of the Syrian Coalition, and said that in many cases they were forced to evacuate the hospital as a result of the Russian airstrikes.
He added that he faces great difficulties in completing surgical operations while the Russian air raids harvest the lives of civilians in the region.
Hospitals and medical organizations have declared a state of emergency after Russian fighter jets targeted the hospitals of Al-Yamdiya, Al-Ikhlas, and Al-Birnas in rural Latakia. They also directly targeted Al-Lataminah hospital in rural Hama, injuring medical staff and patients. Earlier, a vaccination center in the town of Al-Taman’a in rural Idlib was also hit in airstrikes by Russian air forces.”
Member of the General Assembly and head of Aleppo provincial council Osama Taljo calls on the UN Security Council, the United Nations and the World Health Organization to urgently intervene to stop Russia’s targeting of hospitals and medical personnel.
He pointed out that all hospitals in southern rural Aleppo were forced to close down after being targeted by the Russian airstrikes, warning of imminent disaster in the area. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
