On May 15 at 2 pm Damascus time, the Tarmala Maternity and Children’s Hospital in South Idlib, Syria was hit by an airstrike and completely destroyed.  Due to heavy targeting of medical facilities in the region, the hospital was evacuated ahead of time. No injuries or casualties were reported. This marks the 19^th medical facility bombed in 20 days. The hospital housed many incubators in addition to a dialysis department. The hospital served approximately 6,000 beneficiaries monthly, and its loss is catastrophic for an already crippled medical infrastructure.

“Targeting a children’s hospitals is beyond vile and sadistic.  We are lucky that no children were killed in this attack, however, losing this facility will lead to great suffering. The medical system in Idlib is already significantly over capacity, leading to long wait times and refused service. Where will women give birth or patients receive dialysis? Patients are avoiding hospitals because they know they will be bombed. Staff are terrified to go into work. Attacks on medical facilities are a clear war crime and perpetrators must be held accountable.” Said Dr. Hussam Al Fakir, Chairman of UOSSM International.

In the strongest terms, UOSSM condemns the attacks on civilians and medical facilities. UOSSM urges all parties to the conflict to find a peaceful resolution. UOSSM urges the UN Security Council and the international community to implement UNSC resolution 2286 for the protection of medical facilities and aid workers. We urge the international community to release emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation.

*Casualty and displacement numbers fluctuate frequently as the conditions change on the ground.

Previous Medical Facilities Attacked:

On May 11 at 1:20 am the Sham hospital in Kafranbel in Idlib, Syria was hit by an airstrike. The hospital was damaged and put out of service. No injuries or casualties were reported. 

On May 11 at 5:45 am, the Alghab Primary Health Care Center, in Hama, Syria was hit by an airstrike, heavily damaged and put out of service.  No injuries or casualties were reported.

On May 11, at 9:10 am Alhawash Hospital- 112 in Alghab area, Hama was hit by airstrikes. The facility was damaged and put out of service.  No injuries or casualties were reported.

On May 10 at 4:45 pm the Kafranbel Surgical hospital in Idlib, Syria was hit by an airstrike. This was the third time it had been targeted in 2 weeks. No injuries or casualties were reported. 

There were no injuries or casualties in the medical facilities mentioned above because all facilities were evacuated and shut down due to continuous bombardment.

“It is beyond comprehension that 16 medical facilities can be bombed in 2 weeks with impunity. It is clear that these attacks are intentional and part of a military strategy. When did this become normal or acceptable? It is disgraceful that world leaders are silent during these war crimes. The medical infrastructure in Northern Syria is being decimated at a time when 3.5 million people need it most. The remaining hospitals in the region are over run and cannot sustain at this pace. If this continues we will witness the largest refugee crisis the world has ever seen, and it will come to our doorstep. Stop the bombing of hospitals and schools. Stop the killing of civilians, women and children.” Said Dr. Hussam Al Fakir, Chairman of UOSSM International

In the strongest terms, UOSSM condemns the attacks on civilians and medical facilities. UOSSM urges all parties to the conflict to find a peaceful resolution. UOSSM urges the UN Security Council and the international community to implement UNSC resolution 2286 for the protection of medical facilities and aid workers. We urge the international community to release emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation.

Previous Medical Facilities Attacked:

On May 8 at 6:00 a.m. Damascus time, The Kafr Zeta Primary Health Care Center in Hama, Syria was hit by an airstrike. The facility was heavily damaged and put out of service. No casualties or injuries were reported. This marked the 13th medical facility bombed in 11 days, crippling the medical infrastructure in the region.

The Hwejah Medical Center in Ghab valley, Hama, Syria was damaged by an explosion in the surrounding area on May 7 at 6:50 p.m. Damascus time. No injuries or casualties were reported. 

Civilian areas were also heavily targeted on May 7, resulting in atleast 13 civilians killed and 70 injured. Over 200,000 people have been displaced in the region since April 28.

Summary:

• Five civilians, including a child and two women were killed, and 20 were wounded, including eight women and six children in the village of Ras al-Ayn.
• A man and a girl were killed, and a woman and a girl were wounded in the town of Ma'arat Matar by an airstrike on the town.
• Two civilians were killed and seven others injured in Marj Al-Zuhour as a result of airstrikes.
• Two people were killed and one was injured when the outskirts of the northern town of Abdin were targeted by an explosive barrel bomb.
• One man was killed and three civilians were wounded in the town of Barah, as a result of the shelling of the town.
• A whole family (one man, one woman and two children) were injured in the village of Kansafra as a result of a barrel bomb attack. 
• Four civilians, including a child and two women, were wounded in an air strike on the homes of civilians, in the town of Billion.
• Three children and a man were injured in the village of Bekfla, north of Jisr al-Shughur, as a result of an air strike. In addition, air raids targeted the village of the Palm Church in Jabal al-Wasatani.
• Five civilians, including a child and a woman, were injured in the town of Kanfara as a result of air raids targeting civilian houses and farmland on it's outskirts.
• Three civilians, including a child, were also injured in Kahfra from a barrel bomb attack. 
• A civilian was injured at a farm in Abu Khanah east of Khan Sheikhoun, following artillery shelling, which also destroyed agricultural crops
• A child and a man were wounded in the village of Sheikh Mustafa after explosives were fired from helicopter at the village
• Eight civilians were wounded in Marj al-Zuhour following an artillery bombardment of the village from the camp of Gurin.

In the strongest terms, UOSSM condemns the attacks on civilians and medical facilities. UOSSM urges all parties to the conflict to find a peaceful resolution. UOSSM urges the UN Security Council and the international community to implement UNSC resolution 2286 for the protection of medical facilities and aid workers. We urge the international community to release emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation.

*Casualty and displacement numbers fluctuate frequently as the conditions change on the ground.

Three hospitals were targeted and put out of service today in northern Syria. The Nabad Al Hayat Hospital was attacked by airstrikes today at 2:45 PM Damascus time, the underground hospital was completely destroyed. At 3:45 PM

Damascus time, the Kafr Zeta Surgical Unit (Cave Hospital) was attacked by airstrikes, partially damaged and put out of service. At 5:40 PM Damascus time, the Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital was attacked by airstrikes, sustained major damage to the hospital foundation, and was put out of service.

A total of 10 medical facilities have been attacked since April 28, 2019, three medical staff were killed and eight were wounded.

The recent surge in attacks has caused a mass displacement. Since April 21, 231,087 people have fled their homes, 462,496 are under attack in 61 communities. Many of these families are without shelter, living in open spaces, exposed to the elements, and are in need of medical care. At least 100 civilians were killed, including three medical staff, and at least 300 were wounded. A large number of the causalities were women and children.

In the strongest terms, UOSSM urges all parties to the conflict to find a peaceful resolution. UOSSM urges the UN Security Council and the international community to implement UNSC resolution 2286 for the protection of medical facilities and aid workers. We urge the international community to release emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation.

Two more medical facilities were bombed today in Syria for a total of 12 attacked in nine days. On May 6 at 2:00 am the Al-Amal Orthopaedic Surgical Centre in Kansafra south of Idlib, Syria was hit by airstrikes. The facility was heavily damaged and put out of service with no injuries or casualties reported. 

Alzerbah Primary Health Care Centre was also hit by airstrikes at 9:00 am on May 6. The facility was damaged and put out of service with no injuries or casualties reported. 

12 medical facilities have been bombed in the past 9 days, crippling the medical infrastructure in Northern Syria. All three hospitals (Kafr Zeta, Nabd Al hayat, Kafr Nabl) attacked yesterday had their location coordinates shared with military actors through the UN deconfliction mechanisms, to prevent accidental targeting. Targeted attacks on medical facilities are a clear violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2286 and must stop immediately. 

Three hospitals were targeted and put out of service yesterday in northern Syria. The Nabad Al Hayat Hospital was attacked by airstrikes yesterday at 2:45 PM Damascus time, the underground hospital was completely destroyed. At 3:45 PM Damascus time, the Kafr Zeta Surgical Unit (Cave Hospital) was attacked by airstrikes, partially damaged and put out of service. At 5:40 PM Damascus time, the Kafr Nabl Surgical Hospital was attacked by airstrikes, sustained major damage to the hospital foundation, and was put out of service. Three medical staff were killed and eight were wounded since April 28.

In the past 72 hours there has been a surge in airstrikes, barrel bomb attacks and artillery strikes in Idlib and Hama, Syria. At least 77 civilians have been killed and over 150,000 IDPs displaced in the past seven days. Most cities in Northern Hama are almost completely evacuated.

The areas are already over populated and lack in camps and housing for the newly displaced, leaving large numbers with no shelter, exposed to the elements. Five medical facilities and five schools were also bombed and put out of service this week. Many hospitals and schools have suspended operations. There are over 3.5 million people in Northwestern Syria including 350,000 people living in refugee camps. The region already suffers from severe shortages in healthcare, food, shelter and sanitation and cannot withstand further destabilization.  

The five medical facilities that were targeted and put out of service include: Al Latamna Hospital, Qalaat Al-Madiq Hospital, Al Habeet Primary Health Care Center, Qastoon Primary Health Care Center, and the Surgical Unit in Kafr Naboodha. No casualties were reported from these attacks and one nurse was injured in the Kafr Naboodha attack. Earlier today a Syrian Civil Defense Worker (White Helmet) was killed as he was rescuing people in an attack. The former administration officer of Sham Hospital, a prominent actor in the Hama Health Directorate, and current accountant at the Al-Madiq Hospital, was killed as a missile struck his car near Al Madiq hospital.

“If these attacks are allowed to continue, we will witness the apocalypse in Syria. It will be like nothing we have seen in the past 7 years of war. Specifically, the genocide of thousands of civilians and the displacement of millions to surrounding countries. The battle of Idlib and the refugee crisis it will create will threaten global peace and security. The UN Security council, mandated with upholding global peace and security, along with world at large, must take proactive steps to ensure the battle of Idlib is deescalated and resolved peacefully immediately. Right now, hundreds of thousands of people are being pushed into smaller and smaller areas and will inevitably be slaughtered. We know how this story plays out; the bombing of schools and hospital, indiscriminate barrel bomb attacks, chemical weapon attacks and scores of children brutally disfigured and killed. WE CANNOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!” Said Dr. Hussam Al Fakir, Chairman of UOSSM International

In the strongest terms, UOSSM urges all parties to the conflict to find a peaceful resolution. We urge the UN Security Council and the international community to implement UNSC resolution 2286 for the protection of medical facilities and aid workers. We urge the international community to release emergency humanitarian funding for medical aid, shelter, food, water and sanitation.

The Kaston Primary Health Care Center in Hama, Syria was hit by mortars and shelling on May 1 at 11:45 AM. The facility, supported by UOSSM, was damaged, no injuries or casualties were reported.

The Alhbeit Primary Health Care Center in Southern Idlib, Syria was hit by ground rockets and mortars on April 29 at 10 PM causing significant damage to the structure. No injuries or casualties were reported. The medical facility was the third to be bombed within 24 hours on April 29th. 

At 6:30 PM on April 28 the Al-Latamna hospital in Northern Hama, Syria was hit by an airstrike and put out of service. This was the second air strike on a hospital in less than 24 hours. The airstrikes caused major damage to most of the hospital’s sections and destroyed one ambulance. No injuries or casualties were reported. 

On March 13, attacks in the Idlib City region, in Syria killed at least 14 civilians. On March 9, at 7:50 pm, a hospital in Saraqeb, Idlib was directly hit by an airstrike resulting in significant damage to the east wing. The hospital provides an average of 5,800 outpatient consultations, 500 inpatient admissions and 225 child births per month. The hospital was evacuated before the strike and no casualties were reported. A blood bank and the Saraqeb Ambulance System (supported by UOSSM) were also hit by an airstrike causing structural damage. Please click here to read the full press release.