Up to 600 wounded in Syria's east Aleppo, evacuations needed -- U.N.

Record ID: 83579

  • Title: Up to 600 wounded in Syria's east Aleppo, evacuations needed -- U.N.
  • Date: 29th September 2016
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (SEPTEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS BUILDING U.N. DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA, RAMZY EZZELDIN RAMZY, DURING NEWS BRIEFING JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA, RAMZY EZZELDIN RAMZY, SAYING: "Utmost in our mind is the need to address the very concerning medical situation. Many hospitals have been damaged by airstrikes and medical supplies are dwindling. It is estimated that as many as 600 wounded cannot be provided with adequate treatment." VIDEO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA, RAMZY EZZELDIN RAMZY, SAYING: "WHO (the World Health Organization) has developed possible options for such evacuations, because that is the utmost priority at this point, it is to evacuate the wounded. It is vital that they are able to get these evacuations happening as soon as possible." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.N. DEPUTY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA, RAMZY EZZELDIN RAMZY, SAYING: "The bombing must stop, civilians must be protected, and the cessation of hostilities must be restored. We reiterate once again the United Nations' repeated appeals in this regard. We call upon the co-chairs of the ISSG (International Syria Support Group) to work together to make the cessation of hostilities a reality once again." UNITED NATIONS BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 14th October 2016 13:49
  • Keywords: United Nations Ramzy Ezzeldine Ramzy Syria Aleppo wounded
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
  • Reuters ID: LVA00151MDN47
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Up to 600 wounded people in besieged eastern Aleppo are deprived of appropriate treatment and hundreds need to be evacuated urgently, the U.N. deputy special envoy for Syria said on Thursday (September 28).
    "Utmost in our mind is the need to address the very concerning medical situation. Many hospitals have been damaged by air strikes and medical supplies are dwindling. It is estimated that as many as 600 wounded cannot be provided with adequate treatment," Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy told reporters during a briefing in Geneva, following a weekly humanitarian meeting on Syria, which he described as long and difficult.
    Since the ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia fell apart, the rebel-held part of the city, where 250,000 people are trapped, has been the target of an intense campaign of airstrikes, now coupled with ground operations.
    Overnight on Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian or Syrian warplanes attacked two Aleppo hospitals. One was knocked out of service, hospital workers said, and the second one had been badly damaged but might be functioning within days.
    The shelling destroyed seven intensive care beds, leaving only six for the population of the whole eastern part of the city, worsening an already dramatic situation. There remain only 35 doctors in east Aleppo.
    "WHO (the World Health Organization) has developed possible options for such evacuations, because that is the utmost priority at this point, it is to evacuate the wounded. It is vital that they are able to get these evacuations happening as soon as possible", Ramzy said.
    Besides the increasing lack of medical supplies, food stocks are also diminishing, while many bakeries remain closed, with rations for only a quarter of the population.
    Ramzy called on Russia and the United States to resurrect their ceasefire deal, saying it was still the best way to find a solution to the dire situation Syrians are facing.
    "The bombing must stop, civilians must be protected, and the cessation of hostilities must be restored. We reiterate once again the United Nations' repeated appeals in this regard. We call upon the co-chairs of the ISSG (International Syria Support Group) to work together to make the cessation of hostilities a reality once again," he urged.
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