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Four UOSSM Staff Killed in an Airstrike at Medical Triage Point in Khan Touman Aleppo, Syria
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Four UOSSM staff were killed and one nurse is in critical condition after an airstrike that left a medical triage point in Aleppo completely destroyed.
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Cincinnati, OH-
Four staff members of the International Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM) were killed, and one nurse is in critical condition today, from an airstrike at approximately 11 p.m. Damascus time, in the Khan Touman medical triage point, that led to the complete destruction of the facility. Many more victims are feared dead as they are still buried underneath the rubble.
The medical triage point has several ambulatory evacuation systems which are operated by different entities, one of which is supported by UOSSM and the World Health Organization (WHO). The medical triage point mostly provides triage and emergency medical services to approximately 750 wounded patients a month. Dr. Ahmad Dbais, UOSSM Director of Hospitals and Trauma in the Northern Region said, “The building was three stories, two of which were above ground and one story was underground, but due to the intensity of the bombing all three levels collapsed, and are now buried underground.“
The five UOSSM staff, three nurses and two drivers were called to triage wounded patients from the medical point to an advanced medical facility. The medical point was bombed and the two UOSSM/ WHO ambulances were destroyed claiming the lives of the four UOSSM staff. The fifth victim, a nurse, barely survived, in critical condition, has been transferred to UOSSM Bab Al-Hawa Hospital. Dr. Dbais added, “We don’t know the exact number of casualties as it is still night and many of the victims are still buried under the rubble.”
After learning of the tragedy by his staff on the ground, Dr.Zedoun Alzoubi, CEO of UOSSM-International, followed up with Dr Camilo Valderram, World Health Organization (WHO), Health Cluster Coordinator, in Gaziantep, Turkey, to brief him about the situation.
This attack comes one day after the UN/ Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) convoy was hit with airstrikes leading to the death of the Director of the SARC and many other aid workers. It has been a deadly year for healthcare workers where over 115 were killed in 2016 alone, and over 700 medical personnel have been killed since the beginning of the crisis.
Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of UOSSM USA said, “This is a deplorable act against healthcare workers and medical facilities. Today, UOSSM lost four staff members and a nurse’s life is still hanging in the ballots. Healthcare and humanitarian workers lives are supposed to be protected by International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Laws. These selfless people gave their lives to save the lives of others. Deliberate targeting of humanitarian and healthcare workers is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. We demand the international community to act swiftly to put an end to such atrocities. Too many lives have been lost.” Dr. Sawah added, “We send our heartfelt condolences to these selfless people and their families who sacrificed everything to save the lives of their fellow citizens. They truly are heroes.”
Photos will be provided once families are notified and we receive consent.
Dr. Khaula Sawah is available for interviews: For media inquiries please contact Communications and Media Manager: Najah Allouch: [email protected]
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Since 2012, UOSSM has been providing emergency medical relief and healthcare services to the Syrian people affected by the crisis, working primarily inside Syria and with Syrian refugees in Turkey.
FULLY operates Bab Al-Hawa Hospital; Major Referral hospital in Northern Syria / serves +14,000 patients and conducts +1,300 surgeries per month
Partially supported 120 hospitals and 200 medical points with $13 M in medications and consumables sufficient to operate 130,000 surgeries
+ 825,000 patients treated at our 9 primary health care centers and 9 mobile clinics with over 1,000,000 consultations
+ 2,872 newborns delivered at the Burnas Maternity Hospital and other UOSSM specialized maternity centers
+ 128,000 people benefitted from our mental health care and psycho-social support centers
+ 9,000 medical staff have been trained and qualified at UOSSM’s training centers
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Media Contact:
Name Najah Allouch
Title Communications and Media Manager
Phone: (859) 396-9160
Email address: [email protected]
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