Medical charity Doctors Without Borders on 7 March said that Syria’s health system had collapsed after nearly two years of conflict and that foreign aid was falling short of what was needed to address the country’s “humanitarian catastrophe.” The group, known by its French initials MSF, said in a report that more than a third of Syria’s hospitals were no longer functioning and urged talks on allowing for the provision of humanitarian aid.
“Syria’s previously well-functioning health system has collapsed. Food shortages are commonplace, and water and electricity supplies are severely disrupted,” MSF said. “Parties involved in the Syrian conflict must negotiate an agreement on humanitarian aid in order to facilitate delivery from neighbouring countries and across front lines,” it said.
The group, known for providing medical care in troubled areas around the world, said that medical services had unfortunately become regular victims of the fighting. “Medical aid is being targeted, hospitals destroyed, and medical personnel captured,” said MSF’s president, Marie-Pierre Allie.