2011-07-12 09:26:31

ICRC monitors humanitarian toll of Syrian crisis


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:







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