- Title: French aid workers express solidarity with medical staff in Aleppo
- Date: 8th December 2016
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF HEALTH AID GROUP "MEDECINS DU MONDE" DRESSED IN WHITE LAB COATS, EIFFEL TOWER IN BACKGROUND DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED BANNER READING (French): "In support of those who provide care in Syria" BOARD READING (French): "Supporting aid workers in Aleppo and Syria" DEMONSTRATORS CLAPPING HEALTH AID WORKERS IN COATS STAINED WITH FAKE BLOOD VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATOR TALKING WITH LOUD SPEAKER (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEDECIN DU MONDE (DOCTORS OF THE WORLD) REPRESENTATIVE, SERGE LIPSKI, SAYING: "It's hard because we can't be there (in Aleppo). The entry into Syria is forbidden, what we can do is help doctors there to bring them equipment and support. Today is a cry of anger and a cry of distress in front of this dire situation." VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION MEMBER OF MEDECINS DU MONDE AND DOCTOR, RAPHAEL PITTI, TALKING WITH LOUD SPEAKER DEMONSTRATION TAKING PLACE (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEMBER OF MEDECINS DU MONDE AND DOCTOR, RAPHAEL PITTI, SAYING: "International humanitarian rights are not respected in Syria, in particular because hospital are a systematic target, the regime has destroyed 60 percent of hospital buildings, because over the last five years over 750 health workers have died." PITTI BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (French) MEMBER OF MEDECINS DU MONDE AND DOCTOR, RAPHAEL PITTI, SAYING: "Today there remains only 10 doctors, there are no hospitals to welcome the population and those 10 doctors are afraid, afraid for their lives." DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF EIFFEL TOWER
- Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 17:24
- Keywords: Syria demonstration Paris conflict Medecins du Monde
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C0Z87B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dozens of health aid workers gathered in front of the Eiffel tower in Paris on Thursday (December 8) in support of Syrian medical staff in Syria.
Government forces have in the past two weeks seized more than two-thirds of rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which had been in insurgents hands for years.
The scale of death and destruction, and lack of access has made it difficult for humanitarian organizations to reach hundreds of thousands of besieged people in Syria.
More than 800 people have been killed and 3,000-3,500 wounded in eastern Aleppo in the past 26 days, while the remaining trapped civilians await an effective death sentence, the president of the Aleppo local council Brita Haji Hassan said during a trip to Geneva on Thursday.
Damaged hospitals, a small number of doctors and depleted supplies mean that medical workers cannot properly help the wounded.
"It's hard because we can't be there (in Aleppo). The entry into Syria is forbidden, what we can do is help doctors there to bring them equipment and support. Today is a cry of anger and a cry of distress in front of this dire situation," said Serge Lipski, a board member of charity Medecins du Monde (Doctors of the World).
Nearly 150 civilians, most disabled or in need of urgent medical care, were evacuated overnight from a hospital in Aleppo's Old City, the first major evacuation from the eastern sector, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.
"The international humanitarian rights are not respected in Syria, in particular because hospital are a systematic target, the regime as destroyed 60 percent of the hospitals because over the last five years over 750 medical workers have died," said Raphael Pitti who has travelled to Syria in the past to train doctors there.
He said the handful of remaining doctors in Aleppo fear for their lives. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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