UN health agency condemns massive attacks on five hospitals in Syria

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday condemned the attacks on five hospitals that took place in Syria this week, including three hospitals in rural western Aleppo and two hospitals in Idlib.

WHO said at least two people were reportedly killed as a result of the attacks and 19 people were wounded, including six medical staff. Such attacks on health centers in Syria are increasing in both frequency and scale. Throughout 2016, WHO and its partners have documented 126 such attacks across the country.

One of the damaged facilities in rural western Aleppo was a frontline trauma hospital. Another was a secondline trauma hospital. On a monthly basis, all three hospitals were providing more than 10,000 consultations and performed more than 1,500 major surgeries. These attacks have seriously reduced the availability of health services in northern Syria and has resulted in a major disruption of referrals of critically injured and ill patients.

The two hospitals in Idlib were providing almost 10,000 consultations per month, as well as more than performing 200 major surgeries and 600 deliveries. One of the hospitals was a key referral hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care. In addition, an attack on a mobile clinic in the Jisr-Ash-Shugur area of Idlib now leaves more than 3,500 patients deprived of access to essential basic health care.

WHO once again demands that all parties in the conflict respect the safety and neutrality of health workers, health facilities, and medical supplies. The pattern of attacks indicates that health care is being deliberately targeted in the Syrian conflict -- this is a major violation of international law and a tragic disregard of humanity.

As fighting across the country continues, the United Nations health agency warned that the number of health facilities destroyed or damaged by attacks was increasing, depriving thousands of people in need of urgent and essential health care. Endit