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Transcript/ScriptSyria Hospitals (TV)
HEADLINE: Northwestern Syria Hospitals Approach Collapse
TEASER: Doctors say care has already been decimated and some entire hospitals may soon be closed. Officials blame prolonged conflict and falling donations in the wake of COVID.
PUBLISHED AT: Thursday, 01/27/2022 11:50 am
BYLINE: Mouneb Taim, Heather Murdock
DATELINE: Idlib, Syria
VIDEOGRAPHER: Mouneb Taim, Moawia Atrash
VIDEO EDITOR: Heather Murdock
PRODUCER: Henry Hernandez
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:38
VID APPROVED BY: BR
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO: ))
[[Hospitals across the Idlib region, the last opposition-held area of Syria, are near collapse, with doctors’ salaries cut and many services unavailable due to extreme funding shortages. For VOA, Mouneb Taim has this report from Idlib with Heather Murdock in Istanbul.]]
((NARRATOR:))
In Syria’s Idlib province, the heath care crisis is so acute, activists - such as artist Aziz al Asmar - say there is little they can do but call for help.
((Aziz Al Asmar, Artist)) ((Male in Arabic))
“Unfortunately, the suffering has doubled. They will suffer if someone is ill, and if its critical they will suffer again trying to bring them to a hospital.”
((NARRATOR:))
Doctors say most of the medical staff in the region has not been paid this year and many hospitals are near to closing. Many departments have already shut down, lacking equipment, medicine, and personnel.
Officials say the crisis is a result of international donations dropping off at the end of last year. They blame fatigue from COVID-19 and more than a decade of civil war in Syria for the lack of funding.
This hospital serves about 200,000 people, mostly displaced families living in makeshift camps. Doctors say this hospital and nearly 20 others could close in the coming weeks or months if international aid is not restored to the region.
((Dr. Waddah Al-Shaar, Hreitan Hospital)) ((Male, in Arabic))
“When we lost support, the service level went down. It is 20 or 30 percent of its former capacity.”
((NARRATOR:))
Fighting continues for Idlib, home to roughly four million people and the last enclave controlled by the opposition to the Syrian government. Hospital administrators say attacks are imminent and reduced access to health care will deepen what they expect to be a coming tragedy.
((Adeeb Abdel Rahman, Hreitan Hospital)) ((Male, in Arabic))
“This catastrophe will only worsen. When there is a military campaign there will be bombing and destruction. The people will need medical care and emergency services, which now are completely non-existent.”
((NARRATOR:))
And between war injuries and harsh living conditions, activists say, Idlib’s approximately two million displaced people are already in constant need of care.
Kholoud Qatouf lost her foot when a missile hit her house.
((Kholoud Qatouf, Displaced Mother)) ((Female, in Arabic))
“I came to the hospital to get my baby a checkup but found there were no more services. It was so difficult to get here since I am missing a foot.”
((NARRATOR:))
In recent months, Idlib residents have also faced bombings, mass water cuts and record-breaking cold weather that has led to the death of at least one child.
((FOR MOUNEB TAIM IN IDLIB SYRIA, HEATHER MURDOCK, VOA NEWS))
NewsML Media TopicsHealth
Topic TagsSyria
Hospital
NetworkVOA
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
