Hospital bombings are also war crimes

• Protect Civilians: Read our proposals

On April 4th, after Assad’s pilots dropped chemical weapons on Khan Sheikhoun, they then bombed a nearby hospital that was treating the victims.

The Assad regime and Russia have a long-running strategy of attacking medical services.

During the 2016 joint Russia-regime attack on besieged Aleppo, there were 73 attacks on medical facilities and personnel recorded in the city.

Now hospital bombings are escalating again.

• 17 April 2017: Hospital in Jabal al-Zawiya, Idlib, targeted by four airstrikes – five medics and one Syria Civil Defence volunteer injured – UOSSM and SCD reports.

• 17 April 2017: Hospital in Damascus suburbs attacked killing one paramedic – UOSSM report.

• 22 April 2017: Underground hospital in Abdeen, Idlib, hit by up to six ‘bunker buster’ bombs – Syria Civil Defence recovered remains of four killed and rescued six injured.

• 25 April 2017: Hospital in Kafr Takharim, Idlib, bombed by Syrian or Russian aircraft.

• 26 April 2017: Hospital in Daraa damaged in barrel bomb attack – dialysis unit destroyed – UOSSM report.

• 26 April 2017: Latamneh hospital in Hama suburbs attacked – lab technician rescued from under rubble – UOSSM report.

• 27 April 2017: Underground hospital in Maar Zeta bombed – Four paramedics killed while evacuating injured civilians – UOSSM report.

• 27 April 2017: Hospital in Deir al-Sharqi bombed four times – three intensive care patients killed – Idlib Health Directorate report.

• 28 April 2017: Maternity hospital in Kafr Takharim, Idlib province, damaged by at least two air strikes – Save The Children report.

• 28 April 2017: Al Na’eema field hospital in Daraa province attacked.

Chemical attacks are war crimes.

Hospital bombings are also war crimes.

Protect Civilians: We need a fresh start for Syria.

UK Syrian organisations say action is needed to stop hospital attacks and protect civilians

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Russian and/or Syrian jets have again bombed hospitals in Syria culminating in a sharp rise in attacks on medical facilities. In the month of April alone, the following fourteen hospitals and medical centres have been attacked by Russian and Assad forces:

• 2 April: Maarat Nouman Hospital, Idlib.
• 4 April and 16 April: Al-Rahmeh Hospital in Khan Sheikhoun.
• 4 April and 8 April: Heesh Clinic, Idlib province.
• 17 April: Ikhlas Hospital in Shnan, Idlib.
• 17 April: Erbin Hospital, Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.
• 22 April: Central Hospital, Abdeen, Idlib province.
• 25 April: Wasim Hasino hospital in Kafr Takharim, Idlib province.
• 25 April: Dowaila Hospital in Kafr Takharim, Idlib province.
• 26 April: Naseeb Hospital, Daraa.
• 26 April: Al Latamneh Hospital, Hama.
• 27 April: Al Dair Al-Sharqi Hospital, Idlib.
• 27 April: SAMS Ambulances and Evacuation Medical Point, Maar Zeta, Idlib province.
• 28 April: The maternity hospital in Kafr Takharim, Idlib province.
• 28 April: Al Na’eema field hospital, Daraa province.

Russian and Assad jets are committing war crimes targeting medical personnel and facilities in Syria. It is beyond incomprehensible that medical facilities are targeted by one of the permanent members of the UN Security Council; a state which is considered part of the ‘civilised world’. The Syrian people have lost their faith in the UN which has been failing them for over six years. Security Council motions are repeatedly vetoed by Russia, and other members have failed to exert the required pressure on Russia to change its approach.

Destroying hospitals, targeting health care workers (over 700 have been killed so far in Syria in the last 6 years), killing patients on their bed sides and destroying humanitarian aid convoys are amongst the heinous war crimes perpetrated by Russian and Assad forces. This is not to mention the military and economic support that Russia continues provide to the Syrian regime as well as the diplomatic support in the UN.

The Syrian people feel that the so-called political solution has failed them. Russia is unable to play a positive role. It is in fact part of the problem with regards to the criminal Assad regime.

Urgent actions are needed as more war crimes are committed on the medical facilities in Syria. We demand the urgent protection of hospitals, health workers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in Syria. If the UN Security Council is unable to overcome deadlock due to the abusive Russian vetoes, then the UK should pursue an emergency special session in the UN General Assembly through the ‘Uniting for Peace’ mechanism and should push for concrete recommendations for action to be made through the General Assembly. This should be in addition to the imposition of sanctions against Russia for its actions in Syria.

It is not acceptable to keep watching on as the slaughter against Syrian civilians continues in real time. Condemnations are not enough. Action is needed to enforce the protection of Syrian civilians and hospital facilities. Those who have committed war crimes must be brought to justice. Otherwise, history will remember our generation as one of failure.

Signatories:

Dr. Taghleb Alrahabi, Syrian British Medical Society
Dr. Sharif Kaf Al-Ghazal, Syrian Association of Yorkshire
Dr. Haytham Alhamwi, Rethink Rebuild Society
Dr. Amer Masri, Scotland4Syria
Dr. Fadel Moghrabi, Peace and Justice for Syria
Dr. Mohammad Alhadj Ali, Syrian Welsh Society
Dr. Mohammad Tammo, Kurds House
Clara Connolly, Syria Solidarity UK
Abdullah Alobwany, Oxford for Syria
Amjad Selo, Syrian Society of Nottinghamshire
Dr. Farouk Nahas, Syrian Solidarity Campaign
Dr. Abdullah Hanoun, Syrian Community in the South West
Reem Assil, Syrian Platform for Peace