- Title: JORDAN: Hospital inundated with injured Syrians fleeing conflict
- Date: 5th March 2013
- Summary: IRBID, JORDAN (MARCH 5, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PRINCESS BASMA TRAINING HOSPITAL SIGN AT HOSPITAL ENTRANCE, READING: "PRINCESS BASMA TRAINING HOSPITAL" DOCTORS STANDING BY PATIENT'S BED PATIENT IN BED SYRIAN WOMAN IN A COMA DOCTOR CHECKING ON PATIENT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HOSPITAL DIRECTOR, AKRAM KHASAWNEH, SAYING: "Yesterday evening we received a large number of pati
- Embargoed: 20th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3OESYF7K4QE6J654IQU2ZBGS3
- Story Text: A hospital in northern Jordan says it is operating at full capacity as large numbers of injured Syrians cross into the country.
Hospitals in northern Jordan say they are struggling to keep up with the influx of injured Syrians arriving to escape their country's conflict.
According to the United Nations, some 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and nearly a million have fled the country.
Princess Basma training hospital in Jordan's Irbid town is one hospital which is operating at full capacity. It has 200 beds and an emergency unit, but says it has had to turn away some patients.
Hospital director Akram Al-Khasawneh said on Tuesday (March 5) that Syrians were arriving daily.
"Yesterday evening we received a large number of patients. These patients were from varying age groups and had differing injuries. We received 33 cases, most of whom were injured as a result of shrapnel and live ammunition," Khasawneh said.
Some of the injured belong to the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA). One fighter Fahd Labany was injured two days ago in a battle with government forces in Jamla town.
"We were under attack, by rocket launchers, artillery and mortars. A rocket landed next to me, and it broke my arm, and caused me to lose my leg," Labany said from his hospital bed.
Others in the hospital are civilians -- among them an unidentified woman, who has been in coma for the past few days. No one appears to have any information about her.
One boy was injured while hiding with his family in his uncle's basement during shelling.
"The first missile fell next to us, and only caused minor injuries, but then the second one fell right over us and caused many deaths and injuries. I call upon all the nations of the world to help us," he said.
Hospital officials have not informed the boy that his parents died in the shelling.
As the Syrian conflict enters its second year, the number of refugees has been increasing.
Jordanian officials say nearly 90,000 Syrians have arrived in the country this year. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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