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Syria's Medical Community Under Assault

Damaged Ambulance in Syria

Latest Fact Sheet as of February 2015

This fact sheet illustrates the destruction of medical facilities, loss of medical personnel, and resulting health consequences, since the war began in Syria in 2011.

Latest Facts and Statistics

  • Approximately 212,000 people remain in besieged areas, 185,500 of whom are besieged by government forces.
    • In December, food was delivered to only 1.2 percent of the besieged population (2,544 people), while non-food items reached 1.2 percent (2,540 people) and medicines 0.6 percent (1,280 people).
    • An escalation in armed violence in and around Yarmouk camp has prevented UNRWA from successfully completing a distribution of life-saving humanitarian aid for the 18,000 besieged civilians since December 6, 2014.
  • Access to medical supplies and equipment continues to be restricted by insecurity and constraints imposed on humanitarian operations by parties to the conflict.
    • On December 11, the WHO delivered medical supplies and medication to opposition-controlled Madaya, however Syrian government officials prohibited the delivery of desperately needed injectable medicines and surgical supplies.
    • On January 1, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent delivered polio vaccinations and insulin to besieged, opposition-controlled Douma. Other medication, including injectable medicines and surgical supplies for 17,950 treatments, were denied.
  • Physicians working in opposition-controlled areas often cite fuel as their number one need. After the U.S.-led coalition started its bombing campaign in eastern Syria and targeted oil refineries run by the self-declared Islamic State (IS), the price of oil increased significantly, placing further strain on hospitals.
  • In January, IS closed the Syrian Arab Red Crescent office in Raqqa, along with offices of several other small local charities, and appropriated its warehouse and equipment.

Previous Versions
Fact Sheet as of October 2014
Fact Sheet as of July 2014
Fact Sheet as of May 2014
Fact Sheet as of March 2014
Fact Sheet as of January 2014

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