Statement

UNICEF official: Attacks on medical facilities in Syria "should shake the moral compass of the world."

Statement attributable to Dr. Peter Salama, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa

AMMAN, 8 June, 2016 – “Everyone must question their humanity when babies have to be taken out of incubators because of attacks on hospitals.



“UNICEF confirms that three medical facilities were attacked in Aleppo today in the space of three hours. The al-Bayan and al-Hakeem hospitals, within a distance of 300 metres, and the Abdulhadi Fares clinic, all in the eastern part of the city were hit.



“The Al Hakim hospital, a UNICEF supported facility, is one of the few that still provide pediatric services. This is the second attack on the hospital.



“This devastating pattern of warfare in Syria seems to have no checks and balances.



“The past five years of war have brought daily tragedies to millions of people in Syria. Children, including babies just a few days old, have been injured and lost their lives whilst seeking medical care. Health personnel have been injured and lost their lives on duty.



“Hundreds of medical facilities that provide critical life-saving health care for thousands have been damaged or destroyed. In the past two weeks alone, six health facilities were attacked across the country.



“Surely this should shake the moral compass of the world. How long will we allow the children of Syria to suffer like this?”



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For more information, please contact:



Juliette Touma, UNICEF Regional Office, Tel: +962-79-867-4628, jtouma@unicef.org



Toby Fricker, UNICEF Regional Office, Tel: +962-79-027-3657, tfricker@unicef.org

