According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 10 people were killed in strikes targeting a Syrian hospital.
Bayan Hospital is in Aleppo. The city was once Syria’s commercial hub now sees the government controlling the western half and rebel factions holding the east.
Dr Hatem, director of the hospital, reportedly said:
“There are only a handful of functioning incubators left in Aleppo, our ability to provide even the most basic protections to our most vulnerable is disappearing. Every world leader must imagine that one of these newborns were their own son or daughter. Whatever they would do to protect their own children they need to afford the same protection for ours.”
Syrian government forces are believed to be behind the attack.
Zouhir al-Shimale, a local journalist, told Al Jazeera:
“There is a vegetable market on that street, it is a very busy area. At least four barrel bombs were dropped by government helicopters. So far the death toll we have received is ten, with another 30 people injured. In addition to that, air strikes have targeted al-Salhin neighborhoud, one person has been killed and several others have been injured. In al-Rashdin neighborhoud, an air strike left one woman killed.”
In a statement, Unicef’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Peter Salama said that the three medical facilities attacked were the al-Bayan and al-Hakim hospitals, and the Abdulhadi Fares clinic. All are in the eastern part of the city.
“The Al Hakim hospital is one of the few that still provide paediatric services.” Dr Salama said. “This is the second attack on the hospital.”
The UN says that health personnel have also been either killed or injured.
