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Tag: UOSSM

  • UOSSM, Geneva, other demand aid in Al Rukban camp

    Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations ( UOSSM ) alongside Geneva and Switzerland have demanded for the immediate delivery of food, water and medical aid to the Al Rukban refugee camp.

    This call was made in a press release on Monday, 15th October, 2018 following series of causalities that has befallen the camp and its dwellers in the recent year.

    In the release, it was made known that Aid has been blocked from reaching the camp since January, 2018, hence degenerating the camp to a critical state.

    “The entire population is suffering from severe malnutrition and 15 people have died from preventable conditions in October alone. 150 patients currently require urgent medical attention.”

    Dr. Hussam Al Fakir, The Chairman of UOSSM Intl. and Canadian Dentist expressed his anger towards the blockage of Aid saying that it is ridiculous to deny the inhabitants of the camp the basic necessities of life.

    “It is barbaric and illegal under international law to deny these civilians aid. Children are facing horrific malnutrition and are drinking contaminated water”.

     

    He added “Pregnant women are giving birth in the desert without even the most basic medical care. Those that desperately need cesarean sections have not been allowed to leave the camp and are in a perilous situation. We cannot wait another minute to send aid to Al Rukban.”

    Attesting to the claims of the doctor, the community workers noted that on the 8th of October 2018, in less than 24 hours, two newborns died in the camp.

    “4-month-old Huda Raslan died from malnutrition and lack of medical access while Munaf Al Mahmoud, a one year old baby died due to lack of adequate medical care.”

     

  • 14 Aid Agencies suspend work to protest attack in Syria

    Aid workers in Syria have suspended work as a way to protest the recent attack and exposure to armed conflict between the military groups in the area.

    In a statement made available to newsmen globally, the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), noted that Al Ma’ra National Hospital has been exposed to an armed conflict between the military groups in the area. The clashes took place very close to the hospital and then spread to the hospital’s building and square, which left hospital staff and patients terrified.

    UOSSM provides free medical aid to the people of Syria regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or political affiliation. UOSSM international, founded by Syrian Doctors around the world, started in 2012 and operates 12 major hospitals and supports 120 clinics inside Syria. UOSSM has performed over 1,000,000 medical treatments inside Syria since inception.

    The statement reads: “The clashes continued for about seven hours near the hospital, resulting in material damage to the hospital buildings, its equipment and the blood bank. After the clashes stopped, the hospital staff evacuated all the patients to other hospitals.

    “The health organizations participating in this release consider the active conflict near the hospital to violate the impartiality and neutrality of the space, endangering the lives of its staff and patients. The attacks undermine the dedication and sacrifices made by the medical stand and aid workers to ensure medical treatment is offered to the people of Syria.

    “Given the gravity of the situation, the undersigned organizations feel that a strong response is needed to clearly communicate that humanitarian organizations must be given the space to work and maintain their impartiality and neutrality.

    “Based on the information above, the participating health organizations have decided to suspend the health services totally in Al Ma’ra National Hospital on Monday April 16th and Tuesday April 17th, as well as suspend the non-emergency work in all the projects supported by the organizations inside Syria (including the Al Ma’ra national hospital) for 5 days from Monday April 16 until the end of Friday April 20.

    Medical Organizations Participating include the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), Physicians Across Continents (PAC), Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA) and SHAFAK.

    Others are Hand In Hand (HIH), WATAN, Syria Relief, Syria Relief & Development (SDR), VIOLET Independent Doctors Association (IDA) Sustainable International Medical Relief Organization (SIMRO), Al-Sham Humanitarian Foundation (AHF) and AL-AMEEN For Humanitarian Support.

  • Syria: Fifth hospital attacked in Idlib

    Syria: Fifth hospital attacked in Idlib

    A Non-governmental Organization, Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), Another hospital was attacked and put out of service today in Kafr Nabl, Idlib.
    The Sham 4 hospital in Kafr Nabl was attacked at 6:30 a.m. Damascus time by three airstrikes, one of the missiles penetrated through three stories of the building, causing major destruction and putting the hospital out of service.
    According to Hama Health Directorate, the hospital was damaged along with medical equipment, emergency vehicles, and the electrical grid.
    The hospital director, Dr Maram Al-Shaykh Mustafa said: “We can’t even fully evaluate the extent of the damage because of how bad it is.” The hospital provided care to a catchment area of 600,000 people, serving 4,000 patients a month and performing 400 surgical operations a month.
    In the past week, four other hospitals were attacked, three were completely put out of service and the fourth is partially operating. According to sources on the ground, in the past 72 hours there have been over 500 airstrikes killing over 45 civilians and targeting medical facilities, Syrian Civil Defense Centers, and even a school which sheltered internally displaced persons.
    Syria
    Syria
    Dr. Tawfik Chamaa, Spokesman of UOSSM said: “Today’s attack on the Sham Hospital proves once again that the targeting of hospitals is a strategy of war in Syria. Bombing hospitals represent a clear violation of international humanitarian laws and UNSC resolution 2286 (2016).”
    Dr. Chamaa added, “This morning’s attack was the fifth within a week, and was clearly intended to undermine civil society’s capacity to provide basic services to communities in areas of conflict. This is particularly shocking at a time when the international community and the European Union are concentrating on recovery and stabilization efforts in Syria.”
    “Parties that deliberately bomb hospitals and medical workers cannot possibly serve as credible partners in the recovery of civilian life in Syria,” Dr. Chamaa added, “Instead the international community should channel its support to civil society actors on the ground, which have a proven track record of successfully implementing early recovery. In parallel, UOSSM calls for an end to the shelling of civilians and demands that the international community take all necessary steps to protect all civilians in Syria, irrespective of their political, religious or ethnic background.”
    In light of the new wave of hospital bombings in Idlib, UOSSM has launched a petition to governments around the world to stop the attacks on health care workers. The ‘Doctors In Danger’ petition has already received over 43,000 signatures in under a week.
    UOSSM International provides free medical aid to the people of Syria regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion or political affiliation.
  • UOSSM launches ‘Syria solar’ initiative

    UOSSM launches ‘Syria solar’ initiative

    UOSSM launches the ‘Syria Solar’ Initiative on May 29, 2017, after 10 weeks of installation and months of testing and monitoring. The 480-panel pilot project is the first of its kind in Syria and was designed to stabilize electricity in hospitals in Syria.

    UOSSM installed 480 solar photovoltaic panels with a capacity of 127 kWp DC power, 288 batteries capable of storing 720kWh of power, and advanced data control systems. After six years of conflict, major sections of the electrical grid in Syria were destroyed making hospitals dependent on diesel generators. Frequent shortages of diesel jeopardized patient lives and skyrocketed the price of diesel fuel.

    The project is expected to save over 7,000 liters of diesel per month on average. This amounts to approximately 20-30% of the monthly energy cost of the hospital. The system can fully power the ICU, operating rooms and emergency departments during diesel outages. With the success of the pilot project, plans are drafted to deploy solar systems in five more vulnerable medical facilities in Syria. UOSSM is currently soliciting funding partners for upcoming ‘funding ready’ projects.

    Renewable energy for those critical facilities will increase the resilience of the health system in Syria, empower local communities, and help terminate the vicious cycle of the diesel-based war economy.
    “We believe that this type of projects brings hope. Solar energy is a democratizing force, that has the capacity to empower institutions and communities in very positive ways.

    Syria is in one of the best regions globally to harvest solar energy and needs to be leveraged. During the project implementation; restructuring the hospital electrical network, and working through the winter to deploy the technically complex system, were our greatest challenges. The goal now is to empower the health system by scaling the solar project to at least five other critical hospitals. Our dream is to see every medical facility in Syria running on clean, sustainable energy.” Said Tarek Makdissi, Project Director- UOSSM Syria Solar Initiative.

    “In our department, we have a total of 6 incubators. Electricity is critical for the functioning of these incubators. Electricity must be available continuously without shutdown or cut-offs. Even if the electricity was to shut down for half an hour, it can cause severe problems. Children in incubators need a constant temperature.” Said Mohamad Dirbas, UOSSM Neonatal Nurse.

    “This project is a symbol of hope for the Syrian people. We wanted to show the world that Syrians still believe in a brighter future and embrace positivity and progress. The majority of the electrical infrastructure in Syria was either bombed, dismantled or destroyed.

    Hospitals depend on diesel generators and are vulnerable to outages and price surges. Incubators, respirators, and other life-saving equipment need stable access to power. Many patients have died from simple power outages. The solar project was desperately needed. I am overjoyed that the project is running at full capacity and saving lives. Said Dr. Anas Al Kassem, Chairman of UOSSM- Canada and War Surgeon.

  • Syria: Chemical weapons attack in Latamneh, Hama injures 70

    Syria: Chemical weapons attack in Latamneh, Hama injures 70

    The Latamneh area in the suburbs of Hama was hit on Thursday by an airstrike which deployed a chemical weapons agent.

    At least 70 civilians, including medical personnel, have been reported injured from exposure to the chemical agent.

    Injured patients were rushed to area hospitals and were experiencing the following symptoms: nausea, agitation, foaming at the mouth, muscle spasms, and pinpoint pupils. Two patients went into cardiac arrest but no deaths have been reported.

    The patients had their clothing removed, were washed with soap and water, and treated with atropine and hydrocortisone.

    Much medical staff and ambulance drivers were also injured and experienced bronchial irritation as they were transporting and treating patients affected by the chemical agent, including two paramedics from the Sham Humanitarian Foundation.

    Personnel attending to injured persons in the ward
    Personnel attending to injured persons in the ward

    The organisation that provides medical support in the region, UOSSM reported that area hospitals did not have protective masks to protect the staff from exposure and injury.

    The Tashreen and Qaboun neighbourhoods in eastern Damascus city were also attacked with a chemical agent injuring dozens by intoxication and exposure to the poisonous gases.

    In addition to the chemical attacks, the Ibn al-Haitham pharmaceutical factory in western Aleppo was also put out of service yesterday, after the Mansurah town suffered an intense bombardment.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddae68″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The security council resolution 2118 (2013) prohibits the use of any type of chemical weapons in Syria, as do resolutions 2209 (2015) and 2235 (2015) – Al Kassem.[/quote]

    “Since UNSCr 2118 was issued, chemical weapons were used over 150 times. The OPCW, who is mandated to prevent and prosecute the use of chemical weapons, is so clearly failing this mandate that it is an embarrassment to the international community.

    “There is both a lack in timely investigation and prosecution. How can we expect any international laws to be taken seriously when blatant violations go unpunished in Syria. “- Said Dr Anas Al Kassem, Chairman of UOSSM, Canada.

  • Syria: Six hospitals put out of service in Daraa

    Syria: Six hospitals put out of service in Daraa

    The Non-governmental/Non-political & Non-sectarian organisation that provides medical relief, supports health needs of people affected by crises (UOSSM) on Friday disclosed that six hospitals have been partially put out of service in Daraa, a city in southwestern Syria in the past week.

    According to UOSSM, the violence has rapidly escalated in several areas throughout Daraa since the 5th of February. Area hospitals have been put out of service after being targeted directly and indirectly with some partially operating. Three nurses were wounded in the attacks along with civilians killed.

    “The danger to doctors and medical staff in the area has reached a critical level, endangering the civilian population. UOSSM calls for the immediate cessation of attacks against medical facilities and for perpetrators to be held accountable for war crimes.”

    Dr Anas Al Kassem, Chairman of UOSSM Canada said, “What is happening in Daraa is reminiscent of the brutal strategy of targeting hospitals and public infrastructure in Aleppo. The wanton killing of civilians and medical staff in Syria is horrific and must stop now. ”

  • Over five million Syrians without water for days

    Over five million Syrians without water for days

    The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) in Syria has said the bombing of the Ain el Fijah water facility in Wadi Barada on December 24 has left over 5 million people without fresh, running water for the past 30 days.

    UOSSM in a statement lamented the growing concerns over a health epidemic with a sharp rise in severe gastrointestinal cases, according to a doctor from Ibn Nafis Hospital in Damascus. The price for a box of six water bottles has skyrocketed to 1000 Syrian Pounds.

    The NGO decried the rate at which a fierce bombardment continue to affect the villages of Wadi Barada.

    According to a representative from the Wadi Barada Media Council, on Friday one medical staff was killed, the executive director of the medical council was wounded, and an ambulance was targeted and destroyed by artillery shelling as it was transporting the wounded through an area supposedly under a ceasefire agreement.  The continued targeting of Wadi Barada with heavy artillery and barrel bombings has led to more damage to the Ain el Fijah water facility.
    Syria water
    A doctor from Damascus said: “We are very concerned that over 5 million people in Damascus have not had access to clean water for a month. The situation could lead to a catastrophe as the risk of hepatitis A, cholera and parasitic diseases rise due to a large population using contaminated water. Water is life and people need to have this basic human necessity to survive. We are concerned that we are not able to access people in besieged areas. We have a medical staff member who walks for 8 ½ miles to communicate the situation in Wadi Barada with us.  This is absolutely unacceptable.”

    While the people of Aleppo have been evacuated from the besieged area, many people throughout Syria are suffering greatly, with no access to food, water or medical care. A lack of communication and information from these areas has made it extremely difficult to perform needs assessments, assess medical facility capacity, and receive accurate numbers of civilians injured and killed from daily attacks. The lives of hundreds of thousands in besieged areas are still in danger.

    In Deir Ezzor thousands of civilians are trapped in the crossfire. The shortage of doctors in the area has left many without any access to medical care.

    Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of UOSSM USA said, “Hundreds of thousands of lives are still in danger and we must not forget them. Wadi Barada is the new Aleppo,  with a brutal besiegement and a brutal bombardment of the area. Many are being wounded in these attacks and we have no way of getting to them. They are living without the basic necessities of life including water, food and access to medical care. This is a denial of basic human rights and is unacceptable. We call on the international community to ensure water facilities in Wadi Barada are repaired immediately, and humanitarian aid is delivered to civilians in Wadi Barada, Deir Ezzor, and in other besieged areas throughout Syria.”

    UOSSM is hopeful that the meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan today will usher in the long term peace the people of Syria so greatly deserve. UOSSM urges the international community and the UN to send international observers and ‘Blue Helmets’ to conflict areas in Syria to ensure civilians are protected.

  • Two Hospitals attacked in Syria

    Two Hospitals attacked in Syria

    • SyriaPhosphorous bombs used In Syrian attack
    A hospital in Kafr Zita in rural Hama, has been hit by at least two barrel bombs, resulting in severe damages to the facility.
    According to media release made available to David Lawal of The Nation by the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) in Syria, the initial reports show no casualties even as the facility was rendered completely out of service.
    Similarly, another hospital in Atareb, rural Aleppo, was targeted today by airstrikes, resulting in damage to the facility. Also, no casualties reported.
    On a monthly basis the hospital provides an average of 3,350 consultations, 480 admissions and 285 major surgeries.
    A phosphorus attack was reported in Daret Ezzah in the Aleppo directorate.

    No casualties have been reported but medical staff have raised concerns about the use of prohibited weapons such as phosphorous and their indiscriminate and horrifying impact on civilians.

    “UOSSM condemns today’s attacks against medical staff and civilians. The blatant disregard for international humanitarian law must stop. We call on the international community to hold those responsible accountable for war crimes and use all pressures at their disposal to come to a peaceful resolution in Syria.”

    The hospital, which its name was deliberately not released to protect facilities and staff, provides an average of 1,940 consultations, 339 admissions, 126 major surgeries and 25 deliveries.

  • Major hospital in Aleppo heavily damaged

    A major hospital in Aleppo was on Friday hit by airstrikes and heavily damaged at about 4:00pm Damascus time. No fatalities were reported and 35 patients were transferred.
    The hospital was supported by UOSSM/ SAMS/ other NGO’s and serves a population of 150,000 people in Aleppo. It was amongst the last five operational facilities in Aleppo. Currently, only a few doctors remain to serve a population of over 250,000.

    There are unconfirmed reports that two more medical facilities have been attacked same day. Patient volumes and trauma injuries have skyrocketed as a result of relentless bombardments in besieged Aleppo this week.

    The name of the hospital is concealed for it’s protection in light of a policy to repeatedly attack hospitals until destroyed. This was apparent by three separate attacks on one major hospital in Aleppo in the past few weeks.

    The intensification of attacks in civilian neighborhoods has pushed all medical facilities and aid workers to their breaking point. This is a clear and irrefutable violation of international law. Immediate action by the UN is needed to stop the genocide which has already begun.

    In the past three weeks at least 320 children have been wounded and 114 have died as a result of airstrikes in Aleppo. Destruction of White Helmet  (Syrian Civil Defense) emergency response centers throughout Aleppo have severely inhibited the response times and compounded an already critical situation for patients seeking treatment.UOSSM condemns this attack and demands that those responsible are held accountable for  violation of International Humanitarian Law.

    For the survival of our staff and patients, UOSSM implores The United Nations General Assembly to take concerted action to apply pressure on all actors in Syria to come to a peaceful resolution during the UN General Assembly. This emergency special session can be called under the UNGA 370A  “Uniting for Peace” resolution, which dates back to 1950 and allows for the wider membership to step in when the Security Council “fails to exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.”

  • Syrian cave hospital heavily damaged by air strikes

    Syrian cave hospital heavily damaged by air strikes

    The “Dr. Hasan Al-Araj” or “Cave Hospital,” in rural Hama, was heavily damaged by two waves or air strikes.
    The facility, supported by UOSSM and other NGOs, is a hospital built inside a cave 50 feet (17 meters) deep inside a mountain.
    Extensive damage was reported to the emergency room and other parts of the hospital resulting in its closure. No casualties were reported and only minor injuries. All medical staff and equipment have been evacuated from the building. The hospital services the rural Hama area and performs at least 150 surgeries per month and at least 40-50 intensive care cases per month.
    Extensive damage was reported to the emergency room and other parts of the hospital resulting in its closure. No casualties were reported and only minor injuries. All medical staff and equipment have been evacuated from the building. The hospital services the rural Hama area and performs at least 150 surgeries per month and at least 40-50 intensive care cases per month.
    The hospital was named in honour of Dr. Hasan Al-Araj who was killed at the doorsteps of the building. Dr. Hasan Al-Araj was in Geneva on December 2015, where he called on the world’s doctors to stand for the protection of hospitals and health workers in Syria. “I am really happy we could start work in this hospital, it is my baby, I worked on it for 13 months,” Said Dr. Al-Araj in Geneva before his passing.
    “It is suspected that the hospital was targeted by “bunker buster” missiles as the hospital was well fortified in a cave and impervious to previous attacks, the bomb caused complete destruction of the emergency department and major destruction throughout the hospital.”- Said Dr. Abdallah D, Director of the Hospital and head of the Healthcare Directorate in Hama.
    The attack comes one day after the M10 hospital in Aleppo was completely destroyed after being directly targeted for the third time in a week, and three other hospitals in Aleppo were put out of service.
    For the protection of our patients and staff and for the spirit of justice and humanity, UOSSM calls for the immediate investigation and enforcement of the international humanitarian law. Laws which are supposed to protect aid workers. It is incomprehensible that no action has been taken so far with years of data on attacks on aid workers. Laws cannot be just or taken seriously if only applied when convenient.
    UOSSM remains committed to our patients and serving those in need irrespective of the dangers. We greatly appreciate donations to help us rebuild the Dr. Hasan Al-Araj medical center.