An escalation in the targeted bombing of medical facilities since September 19 has forced the closure and evacuation of hospitals throughout northwestern Syria, leaving people trapped in a war zone without access to health care, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said.
In a statement released on Thursday, the international medical humanitarian organization said that the ongoing aerial attacks put at least three hospitals in Idlib and one more hospital in Hama province out of service over the past week.
“It is demonstrably evident that hospitals are not safe from bombings in Idlib at the moment, and this is outrageous,” said Brice de le Vingne, MSF director of operations. “Fear is causing hospitals to close or reduce services. The impact of this will be on all people, the sick, the wounded, pregnant women, and everyone who needs health care.”
According to the Syrian Civil Defense in Idlib, at least 572 airstrikes and 220 rocket attacks have hit the province since September 19. The attacks killed 152 civilians and wounded 279 more as well as left at least 18 rescue workers wounded.
Russian warplanes targeted five civil defense centers, six hospitals, six schools, the Nour IDPs camp in the town of Jarjanaz in rural Idlib, two mosques, and three power stations.
Idlib province has been pummeled by ferocious aerial campaign by the Assad regime and Russian air forces over the past two weeks. Russia continues to support the regime of Bashar al-Assad in its war against the Syrian people and has directly intervened on his side since September 2015. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Agencies)
