Syria: Children of Aleppo left without medical help
Last remaining pediatric hospital forced to close
Following Wednesday’s attacks on the Malteser International-supported children’s hospital in eastern Aleppo, during which staff and patients were trapped in the building’s cellar as twenty barrel bombs fell in the area of the hospital, the facility was struck once again by two missiles on Friday, November 18. This renewed bombardment, forced medical staff to abandon the heavily damaged building, where the treatment of patients had become impossible.
The estimated 90,000 children remaining in besieged eastern Aleppo are therefore at present without access to specialist medical treatment. “We are shocked and saddened by the consequences of this latest inhumane act, which has deprived the sick and wounded children of eastern Aleppo of the chance to receive medical help,” said Janine Lietmeyer, Malteser International’s Middle East manager.
Malteser International has been supporting the pediatric hospital since July 2015 – paying the salaries of staff members, and financing the purchase of equipment including ventilators and incubators. Malteser International also provides medical care for around 300,000 people living near the Syrian-Turkish border at four basic health units operated by its partner organization. More than half of these are internally displaced people living in camps.
About Malteser International:
Malteser International is the humanitarian relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta. With over 100 projects annually in some 25 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, Malteser International has been standing by those affected by poverty, disease, conflict and disaster, helping them lead a healthy life with dignity – without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles build the foundation of its work. For more information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.int
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