- Title: WHO condemns "shocking" attacks on Syria hospitals
- Date: 16th November 2016
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (NOVEMBER 16, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) HEADQUARTERS WHO SPOKESMAN, TARIK JASAREVIC, WALKING OUT OF WHO HEADQUARTERS WHO SYMBOL (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) SPOKESMAN, TARIK JASAREVIC, SAYING: "The World Health Organization strongly condemns this latest wave of attacks on healthcare facilities. In the last 48 hours, there were six attacks on hospitals and health centres in western rural Aleppo, east Aleppo as well as in Idlib. These attacks not only left casualties - we know that there were at least two people dead, there were also 13 civilians injured, and also six health workers who were wounded - but also these attacks had the result that these facilities are now closed, and that the population has no access to health services." VARIOUS OF JASAREVIC READING NEWS RELEASE VARIOUS OF NEWS RELEASE READING (English): "WHO CONDEMNS MASSIVE ATTACKS IN SYRIA" (SOUNDBITE) (English) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) SPOKESMAN, TARIK JASAREVIC, SAYING: "It is shocking that healthcare facilities continue to be attacked in Syria. Only this year there were 126 attacks on health facilities and health workers recorded by the World Health Organization and partners. We call on all parties to stop targeting health workers and hospitals because this is outrageous, and this deprives (the) civilian population from access to basic health services." VARIOUS OF WHO HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 1st December 2016 18:51
- Keywords: World Health Organization air strike Aleppo Syria Idlib WHO hospital
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Bombing (non-military),Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA00158P4CAV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (November 16) condemned a wave of attacks on hospitals in Syria.
Air strikes pounded neighbourhoods around a children's hospital and a blood bank in rebel-held eastern Aleppo on Wednesday in a second day of renewed bombing that has killed at least 32 people, a war monitor, medics and emergency workers said.
The air raids formed part of a wider military escalation by the Syrian government and allies including Russia, which fired coordinated volleys of missiles at rebels on Tuesday (November 15) and for the first time used its only aircraft carrier.
On Monday (November 14) and early Tuesday, there were air strikes on hospitals in three rebel-held towns to the west of Aleppo, knocking them all out of service. Damascus and Moscow both deny targeting hospitals.
WHO said there had been heavy attacks on five hospitals in Aleppo and Idlib provinces since Sunday (November 13), severely reducing access to health services for people in northern Syria.
"The World Health Organization strongly condemns this latest wave of attacks on healthcare facilities. In the last 48 hours, there were six attacks on hospitals and health centres in western rural Aleppo, east Aleppo as well as in Idlib. These attacks not only left casualties - we know that there were at least two people dead, there were also 13 civilians injured, and also six health workers who were wounded - but also these attacks had the result that these facilities are now closed, and that the population has no access to health services," WHO spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic, told Reuters in Geneva.
"It is shocking that healthcare facilities continue to be attacked in Syria. Only this year there were 126 attacks on health facilities and health workers recorded by the World Health Organization and partners. We call on all parties to stop targeting health workers and hospitals because this is outrageous, and this deprives (the) civilian population from access to basic health services," Jasarevic added.
Moscow has denied reports that its jets have hit Aleppo in the renewed wave of bombardment, and said it was sticking to a moratorium on air strikes in the city.
Tuesday's bombing run on eastern Aleppo appeared to mark the end of a pause inside the city declared by Russia on Oct. 18 which Syria's military had also largely observed.
Aleppo has become the pivotal front in Syria's 5-1/2-year war pitting President Bashar al-Assad - supported by Russia, Iran and Shi'ite Muslim militias - against mostly Sunni Muslim rebels including groups backed by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
