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MSF (Doctors Without Borders) in its statement today (April 18) has underlined that the resurgence of the heavy fighting over the last week has led to more than 35,000 persons fleeing displaced people camps taken over by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) group, or that are too close to front lines.
According to the statement, there are now more than 100,000 people caught between the active ISIS frontline, Kurdish-controlled territories and the Turkish border.
“The border has been closed for the last year to all but the most seriously ill Syrians, and some humanitarian staff with special permits.
The fighting has also led to several medical facilities shutting down as fighting draws close and medical staff flee”.
“Have nowhere safe to go”
MSF’s 52-bed hospital in northern Azaz district is still running, and is prioritising emergency care
Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission, Syria says “Yet again we see tens of thousands of people forced to flee but with almost nowhere safe to go – trapped in this bloody, brutal conflict”.
"[...] but given how this war has been conducted from the very beginning, including deliberate targeting of civilians, we are extremely worried about the protection of the population if the frontlines keep approaching", Muskilda Zancada adds.
700 patients in Emergency Room in one week
Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission, Syria with regards to the activities of MSF in the region has noted;
"Our medical teams are working under unimaginably difficult conditions and given the severity of the crisis we have decided to focus on emergency lifesaving interventions. In the last week we have seen nearly 700 patients in the Emergency Room, including 24 war-wounded."
Since April 8, the hospital has also assisted with eight deliveries and MSF teams have so far distributed emergency relief items such as blankets and tarpaulins to more than 3,400 newly displaced people.
"Yet again we see tens of thousands of people forced to flee but with almost nowhere safe to go – trapped in this bloody, brutal conflict," said Muskilda Zancada, MSF head of mission, Syria.
Call on Turkey and EU
MSF Middle East Operations Manager Pablo Marco has noted that there was a cruel contradiction between the situation in northern Syria and the current priorities of the European Union with regard to Syrian refugees.
“It is unacceptable that the current efforts of the EU are focused on how to return Syrian refugees to Turkey, instead of on how to assure safety and protection for those amassing at the Syrian-Turkish border”.
Reminding that MSF called on the European Union and Turkey to work together to find a humane solution to the emergency, one which ensures the protection of people fleeing for their lives, Marco has added;
“The EU and Turkey have a long history as providers of safe havens, today more than ever we need to see that commitment to upholding people’s right to flee from this brutal war.” (AS/DG)
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