Press Release: UOSSM Joins The #SolidarityWithKarim Campaign Along With Thousands

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2017

Toronto, ON- UOSSM has joined the #SolidarityWithKarim campaign, supported by thousands of people, who are outraged at the number of children that have been victims of attacks in Syria. Campaign participants are asked to cover their left eye, take a selfie and post on social media, in solidarity with Karim.

The two-month-old, Karim Abdel Rahman, lost his left eye on October 29, 2017, when he and his mother came under an artillery attack in a popular market in Hammuriah, Eastern Ghouta. Karim’s mother was killed in that attack, and Karim sustained severe injuries to his skull.

The new escalation of the siege in Eastern Ghouta has taken a disturbing toll on the civilian population of approximately 400,000. At least 500 patients are in desperate need of evacuation with life-threatening conditions. The number of deaths from preventable disease has increased significantly. The humanitarian catastrophe is compounded by food aid and medical supply lines being cut off for months. Starvation is rampant and doctors are out of medicine, supplies and equipment.

"The horrors faced by the children of Ghouta are unimaginable. Karim's story is just one of many that could have been prevented. He will have to suffer with this affliction his whole life. The international community should be ashamed that this is allowed to happen with impunity. It must stop now!" Said Dr. Ghanem Tayara, Chairman of UOSSM International

In the strongest possible terms, UOSSM calls for:

1) The immediate evacuation of critically ill children in Eastern Ghouta.

2) Impartial and safe humanitarian access to deliver food and medical aid to Eastern Ghouta through humanitarian corridors.

3) The medical evacuation for nearly 500 critically ill patients in Eastern Ghouta.

4) The protection of civilians in Eastern Ghouta under International Humanitarian Law and and an immediate end to the siege on civilians.

UOSSM demands all parties fully respect international and humanitarian laws, in particular UN security council resolutions: 2258 (2015), 2165 (2014), 2139 (2014)

Media inquiries and interviews please contact :

Name: Avi D'Souza

Global Director Of Communications

Email: press@uossm.org

Phone: 001 (647) 528-5029

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About UOSSM :

UOSSM (Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux) 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.

www.uossm.org