Thousands at risk as Syrian government bombing forces closure of key hospitals and health centres
World Health Organisation issues warning after 14 health centres and two hospitals shut due to attacks by Assad regime
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two hospitals and 14 health centres in northern Syria have been forced to close because of increasing conflict in the area, sparking fears for thousands of citizens.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is concerned about the conditions for people living in Idlib as the Syrian government launched a major offensive against the opposition stronghold.
Tens of thousands of citizens have fled the area as the Assad regime launched repeated airstrikes just before Christmas.
According to the WHO, 2.7m people living in northwest Syria need access to healthcare, 500,000 of whom are in Idlib.
It said 14 primary health care centres and two hospitals have been closed due to the conflict.
Al Salam Hospital’s maternity services have been fully suspended with staff evacuated on 20 December while Al Ma’ra National Hospital was evacuated and closed on 23 December.
Two haemodialysis centres in Ma’aret al-Noman and Babilla were also closed, leaving about 35 patients in need of life-saving blood filtration treatment.
The WHO has warned if the bombing and conflict continues, a further 42 health facilities in and around Idlib are at risk of suspending their services.
The organisation said shortages of drugs, medical supplies and healthcare workers will further aggravate the situation, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to essential healthcare services.
Dr Richard Brennan, director of health emergencies for WHO’s eastern Mediterranean region said: “The recent military escalation in this area has resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and exacerbated the suffering of civilians, displacing more than 130,000, including women, children and elderly.
“Some have been displaced three times during the nine years of the Syrian conflict.”
He added: “We are supporting mobile health teams, have distributed pre-positioned health kits and supplies, extended support for mental health services and will continue to do what we can to ensure health and protect the vulnerable.”
By the end of November, WHO said there had been 83 attacks on healthcare facilities in Syria since January 2019, with 69 of them in the northwest region.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments