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The situation in Syria is catastrophic. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is preparing to urgently scale up medical assistance and aid distribution to thousands of people displaced in northwestern Syria and is asking Turkish authorities to immediately facilitate the movement of MSF staff and essential supplies. Since December 1, 2019, more than 948,000 people have been uprooted by indiscriminate bombing and shelling on Idlib province that has hit medical facilities and schools housing displaced families, according to the United Nations. Forced displacement of this scale has not been seen in nine years of war in Syria.
That’s why we wanted to be sure you saw this message: MSF plans to significantly scale-up activities in northwestern Syria in the coming weeks, including distributing essential relief items such as tents, cooking sets, floor mats, and blankets. We’re also planning to provide trauma care and reinforce basic health care services for people displaced by the fighting.
The Syrian government and its allies reportedly attacked civilian areas in northwest Syria’s Idlib governorate, with bombs and shells striking areas where hundreds of thousands had sought safety after fleeing previous attacks nearby. At least two schools and two kindergartens hosting displaced families were hit.
Three hospitals in the area supported by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) received influxes of patients in critical condition. Two of the hospitals were almost hit themselves, with projectiles landing less than 330 feet away. Four medics working for Idlib Central hospital sustained minor blast wounds.
Indiscriminate and targeted bombing and shelling on civilian areas has become the terrible norm during the Syrian war. In a statement following the attacks, MSF General Director Meinie Nicolai called for the Syrian government to stop attacks on civilians and abide by international humanitarian law and respect the rules of war.
Cristian Reynders, MSF project coordinator for northwestern Syria, said the following:
“How many mothers need to hold their baby in their arms while bombs are falling everywhere? How many fathers need to reassure their children and make them laugh, while fire breaks out all around? There is one thing people in Idlib keep hoping for—to preserve human life. And their hopes are lowering by the minute, by the day.”
MSF has provided donations of emergency medical supplies to three hospitals over recent weeks as the front lines have advanced towards Idlib city. Across northwestern Syria, MSF teams provide maternal and general health care as well as treatment for noncommunicable diseases through mobile clinics in addition to running a specialized burns unit that provides surgery, skin grafts, dressings, physiotherapy, and psychological support.
MSF also provides distance support to several hospitals and clinics around Idlib and Aleppo and has co-management partnerships with three hospitals. We distribute relief items and improve water and sanitation systems, support regular vaccination activities, and help patients who have undergone kidney transplants.
To ensure independence from political pressures, MSF receives no government funding for its work in Syria.
This email was sent from the U.S. section of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care.
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