Deadly bombing of a hospital in Aleppo condemned

Thursday, 28 April 2016

Save the Children strongly condemns the deadly bombing of a hospital in Aleppo yesterday evening, as violent attacks rapidly escalate in northern Syria with dozens of civilians killed and wounded in the past few days.

Last night’s airstrike on Al Quds hospital reportedly killed several children and the area’s only remaining paediatrician, as well as other medical staff and civilians. The hospital has one of the largest paediatric units in the city and many children are likely to be left without care as a result.

The hospital bombing comes as the latest round of peace talks falters and the cessation of hostilities agreed in February is disintegrating into bloodshed. Save the Children partners in the area have told us of almost constant bombing and shelling this week, and urgent action is needed to save the small but crucial gains of the past few months.

“Bombing hospitals that are treating sick children is a despicable act. This latest attack will deprive thousands of people of essential healthcare at a time when their homes and neighbourhoods are again being destroyed by a new surge in bombing and shelling,” says Sonia Khush, Save the Children’s Syria Country Director.

Targeting of hospitals and health facilities has become common in Syria. Earlier this week, another hospital in nearby Al Atareb, just outside Aleppo, was bombed.

Save the Children calls on parties to the conflict to end the targeting of hospitals and health facilities, and other civilian infrastructure such as schools. We urge the international community and the parties to the conflict to ensure that the current round of peace talks do not fail, and recommit to a full cessation of hostilities.

Save the Children works with local partners to run health programmes across northern Syria, including supporting seven health clinics. In the past month Save the Children supported measles and polio vaccination campaigns for more than 280,000 children.