Brave Brit doctors head to Syria with medical relief convoy after Assad and Putin bomb every hospital in East Aleppo to dust
Amnesty International has repeatedly accused regime and Russian backers of deliberately targeting medical facilities
BRAVE volunteers are launching a desperate bid to bring medical help to the people of war-torn Syria before Christmas after the deliberate destruction of hospitals by Bashar al-Assad’s troops.
Amnesty International has repeatedly accused the Syrian regime – as well as its Russian allies – of purposely targeting medical facilities in rebel-held areas.
Earlier this year, the human rights group said it had gathered “compelling evidence” of targeted attacks on six medical centres in and around Aleppo as regime forces prepared for the final assault on the city.
Tirana Hassan, Crisis Response Director at Amnesty International said: “Syrian and Russian forces have been deliberately attacking health facilities in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.
“But what is truly egregious is that wiping out hospitals appears to have become part of their military strategy.”
Since then, the brutal campaign has continued – with hospitals bombed to dust to weaken the local population ahead of advancing ground forces.
In September, airstrikes destroyed the largest hospital in the city, burying intensive care patients in rubble as they lay in their beds.
And last month, seven children were killed when Syrian warplanes bombed one of Aleppo’s last hospitals.
Now, a team of heroic British doctors are set to brave the bombs and head out to Syria with a convoy filled with medical equipment to bring relief to those caught in the crossfire.
Leaving from London on December 17, the convoy – which will also include Syrian and American medics – plans to head straight for Aleppo to set up a children’s hospital where others have been destroyed.
Organisers are to pay for the lifesaving trip, which it is hoped will arrive before Christmas.
How do I donate to the medical aid convoy appeal?
IF you want to do something to help, here’s how you can donate to the convoy before it sets off this week…
- Go to the People’s Convoy website
- Choose how much you want to donate – you can either select one of the pre-set sums or type in your own amount
- Click ‘Donate Now’ to enter your details
Dr Rola Hallam is a British-Syrian doctor who will travel with the convoy.
She said: “This is aid from the people to the people. It is both practical support and an important message of solidarity for the innocent civilians caught up in Syria’s horrific war, and the brave and selfless doctors and humanitarian workers who fight to save lives in the most difficult circumstances imaginable.”
Dr David Nott, a Welsh surgeon who has worked in war zones including Syria, is backing the campaign.
He said: “Deliberately targeting hospitals and medical staff is a war crime and it must stop.
“Our governments cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocent Syrian civilians, including millions of children.
“This convoy will directly help some of those in need, but only concerted international action to stop the bombing and let aid in will stop the suffering for good.”
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