Human rights groups say at least 1,400 civilians have been killed since an uprising
began in Syria in March against Bashar al- Assad's autocratic rule, posing the biggest
threat to his leadership since he succeeded his father 11 years ago.
Following
ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger's two-day visit to Syria and his meetings with high-level
officials, the ICRC was granted wider access to areas stricken by violence during
nearly four months of disturbances and unrest.
In the southern city of Dara'a,
ICRC and Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff have visited the local Red Crescent chapter,
the general hospital and some neighbourhoods. "The hospital has been able to meet
the needs of more than 1,500 injured people," said its director.
Syrian Arab
Red Crescent volunteers and staff have distributed food parcels, tins of baby milk
and other items to the hospital. They also visited the northern city of Idlib before
proceeding to a number of nearby villages and towns, where disturbances and displacement
have been reported, to assess needs and register people who need assistance. They
report that most people who fled from Jisr al-Shughur to Darkush and other nearby
towns have now returned to their homes.
Jisr al-Shughur's six-year-old government
hospital serves the area's population of approximately 400,000. "The situation is
calmer now," said its director. "But when military operations were taking place during
three days in early June, the hospital received many casualties." Listen: