The recent attack in the Syrian city of Aleppo has forced Qatar Red Crescent Society’s (QRCS) Primary Health Care Centre to close down, depriving thousands of civilians of much-needed medical assistance.
The attack on October 1, which included the dropping of around four bombs on the centre, left two hospital patients dead and eight others injured, according to QRCS in a press statement.
The air strikes have significantly damaged (around 50%) of the centre, putting it out of service.
QRCS also condemned the attacks on Al Sakhoor hospital, a local ambulance, and other medical facilities that are supported by international non-governmental organisations.
QRCS has called upon the international community to intervene and put an end to such direct attacks on medical and health facilities in Syria.
“This direct targeting of the primary healthcare centre in Al Sakhoor area of Aleppo, which have killed and injured a number of patients who were visiting the centre, is a war crime,” said Dr Hashem Darwish, head of health programme at QRCS’s mission in Turkey.
“It is a violation of the Protocols of 1977 additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 that recognises the importance of protecting the Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies, other authorised impartial relief organisations, and neutral governments that provide humanitarian service in areas of conflict,” he noted.
QRCS’s healthcare centre was established in April and was partially funded by Humanitarian Pooled Fund to provide health care and general medical treatment to 250,000 civilians who live in Aleppo, according to United Nations reports.