PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2019
BREAKING: UOSSM Ambulance Center and 3 More Facilities Hit By Airstrikes in Syria
Dallas, Texas-  On July 10 at 9:40 am Damascus time, an airstrike hit a UOSSM ambulance center in Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria, causing material damage to the ambulances and facility. No injuries or casualties were reported.
 
During the same attack, the Al Kelawai Hospital (partially supported by UOSSM) in Jisr Al Shughour was also hit by an airstrike and suffered material damage. Six civilians living near the facility were killed. Five staff (one anesthesiologist, three cleaning staff and one warehouse assistant) were injured with no staff casualties reported.
 
At 9:40 am Damascus time, the Saraqeb Primary Healthcare Center in Idlib was hit by an airstrike. No injuries or casualties were reported. 
 
The Maarat Al Nouman Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in Northern Syria was hit by aircraft guns and rockets. The facility is a major referral center for civilian victims during the current military offensive. The hospital had shared its coordinates with all military actors through the UN deconfliction channel. No injuries or casualties were reported.
 
Three days ago, Dr. Muhammad Abdul Baqi , a member of the faculty of Academy of Health Sciences at Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA), died from injuries sustained in an airstrike in Mhambel, Idlib. This airstrike, on a civilian area, also killed seven children.

UOSSM calls for the immediate investigation of these targeted attacks on medical facilities, and that perpetrators are held responsible for war crimes. Today’s attacks mark at least 32 medical facilities bombed since April 28, 2019. 

Dr. Khaula Sawah, Vice President of UOSSM USA said, "It is deeply disturbing to have 32 medical facilities attacked in less than three months. These facilities are vital to provide medical care to the 3.5 million civilians in Idlib. These people have come under bombardment and desperately need medical care. We have repeated this over and over again, hospitals are not a target, medical staff are not a target, civilians are not a target. We appeal to the international community to stop these attacks immediately."

*due to the situation on the ground, numbers are constantly changing

For Media Inquiries Please Contact:

Najah Allouch:
UOSSM USA Communications and Media Director
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.
UOSSM:
  • In 2018, UOSSM supported 14 primary health care centers and 13 mobile clinics
  • UOSSM Bab Al Hawa Hospital provided health care services to almost 1 million patients since establishment
  • In 2018, over 162,000 beneficiaries were provided with nutrition services focused on pregnant and nursing women, and children under the age of 5
  • UOSSM Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services provided care to 110,096 beneficiaries in 2018
Media Contact:

Name: Najah Allouch 
Title: Communications and Media Director
Email Address: [email protected]