Washington DC- A Syria Relief child and maternity hospital in Idlib was targeted yesterday at 1:05 p.m. Damascus time, by three airstrikes causing extensive damage to the facility. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported. At least five medical staff were wounded including a gynecologist and an anesthesiologist who were in the middle of an operation when the hospital was attacked. The doctor was able to quickly sew the mother up, and the patient and baby were not harmed in the attack. The hospital suffered extensive damage to operating rooms and lab facilities and was put out of service. Syria Relief is a member of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM).
Another hospital was attacked yesterday in the suburbs of Damascus, killing one paramedic, causing damage to the facility, and putting it out of service. One ambulance was partially damaged as well.
Dr. Mounir Hakimi, Chairman of Syria Relief said, “It is truly sickening that pediatric and maternity hospitals are being targeted by airstrikes. We were very lucky that there were no mothers or children killed, but there very well could have been. What if these were our hospitals and our children? Attacks against hospitals are war crimes and we urge the international community to act and prosecute perpetrators."
Dr. Khaula Sawah, Board Member of UOSSM USA said, “We have repeatedly condemned attacks against hospitals and medical facilities. It is so upsetting to hear that a hospital that specifically provides care for women and children was attacked three times. This is a blatant defiance of International Humanitarian Law; we call on the international community to demand an immediate stop to the targeting of hospitals and medical facilities and to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
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