Joint Statement by the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator and the Humanitarian Coordinator on recent air strikes affecting hospitals in Syria [EN/AR]

Damascus, Amman, 26 April 2017

The UN community is appalled by the ongoing damage and destruction of medical facilities in northern Syria depriving hundreds of thousands of people of basic health services. On 25 April at dawn, the Shahid Wasim Husseini hospital in Kafr Takharim city was reportedly hit by airstrikes, putting it out of service. On 22 April airstrikes in the area of Abdin in Idleb Governorate reportedly hit an underground field hospital and reportedly killed four civilians. Four other airstrikes impacting medical facilities were reported in April alone in this region, including a hospital specializing in maternal and child care. Almost all facilities were rendered out of service as a result.

It is completely unacceptable that facilities and people who are trying to save lives are being bombed,” said Kevin Kennedy, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis “The persistent and unceasing attacks on hospitals and medical facilities is one of the most egregious features of this war and has taken the lives of hundreds of medical personnel and deprived people in need of their most fundamental human right- the right to life. It must stop."

The Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Ali Al-Za’tari called for “the parties to the conflict to abide by their obligation under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals.”

For further information, please contact:
Linda Tom, Damascus, toml@un.org, Tel: +963 958 880 095
Sajeda Shawa, Amman, shawas@un.org, Tel: +962(0) 79 0224591
Fadwa AbedRabou baroud Gaziantep, baroud2@un.org Tel: +90 533 617 61 53