Doctors in Eastern Ghouta overwhelmed by influx of patients wounded by intensified attacks
Toronto, ON- Doctors and medical facilities in Eastern Ghouta are overwhelmed by the influx of patients wounded and injured by intensifying attacks. Hundreds of airstrikes in civilian areas, including cluster bombs, which are indiscriminate in nature and prohibited by international law, are causing massive civilian casualties.
Medical services in many areas were shut down for the safety of medical staff, patients and facilities. Surgical supplies and medicines are running low in functioning medical facilities. A young woman, I B Gaburah, was another victim of the siege as she died yesterday from lack of medicine and malnutrition.
Three White Helmets (Syrian Civil Defense Workers) were killed today during a rescue in Eastern Ghouta in a "double tap" attack by a warplane. The "double tap" attack is a strategy used to target aid first responders, and maximize the number of casualties.
WFP food centers were targeted and destroyed this week further compounding the malnutrition and suffering in Eastern Ghouta.
There are also reports of chlorine gas and napalm being used. UOSSM, in the strongest terms, demands immediate impartial humanitarian access for aid convoys to deliver food, medicine and medical supplies.
"The medical situation in Ghouta is critical. We require action NOW from all parties to handle this humanitarian catastrophe.
The killing of the 3 'White Helmets' staff today is truly heart breaking. They are heros. My sincerest condolences go out to their families and colleagues. How many more aid workers need to die before international laws are taken seriously." Said Dr. Anas Al Kassem, UOSSM Board Member and Ontario Surgeon #DoctorsInDanger In 2016, according to the UOSSM Syrian Hospitals Report, there were 1004 direct and indirect attacks on Syrian medical facilities. Some were targeted up to 25 times with an average of three attacks per hospital.
Petitions were sent to state leaders worldwide: Emmanuel Macron, Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, Angela Merkel and Theresa May. The petition demands that state leaders uphold and enforce humanitarian law:
The effective implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2286 (2016)**, which prohibits attacks against medical facilities/ staff/ aid workers during war. That the government makes every effort possible to prevent these attacks and holds perpetrators accountable for war crimes.
The immediate opening of a safe, impartial, humanitarian corridor for NGOs to deliver essential aid to healthcare workers and care for neglected populations.
Change.org Petitions: Canada: Justin Trudeau Take Action To Stop The Targeting Of Hospitals And Medical Staff In Syria http://www.doctorsindanger.com/en/
Media inquiries and interviews please contact :
Name: Avi D'Souza Global Director Of Communications Email: [email protected] Phone: 001 (647) 528-5029
About UOSSM :
UOSSM (Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux) provides free medical aid to the people of Syria regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or political affiliation. UOSSM international, founded by Syrian Doctors around the world, started in 2012 and operates 12 major hospitals and supports 120 clinics inside Syria. UOSSM has performed over 1,000,000 medical treatments inside Syria since inception. www.uossm.org Connect with us UOSSM International | 66 Avenue Des Champs Elysées, Paris, 75008 France
