Norway gives 50 million for health care in Syria

SyriaInjured child receives treatment after an airstrike in the rebel held Douma neighbourhood of Damascus, Syria.Photo: REUTERS/Bassam Khabieh.

The Civil Population in Syria urgently need medical care. Therefore, Norway is now increasing support for health care by 50 million, said Foreign Minister Brende.

– It is urgent to provide civilians access to medical care. 11.5 million people need health care, but well over half of all hospitals in the country have been attacked, according to the Foreign Minister in a statement to news agency NTB  on Saturday night.

Many hundreds of health workers have been killed and more than half have fled the country, which has meant that it has become even harder to get health care. Last night the US and Russia agreed on a truce as of Monday night.

If the agreement is adhered to, it will be possible to bring in more emergency services in areas of acute need.

– It is totally unacceptable that already severely injured and sick people should risk being attacked while receiving medical care, and that doctors and nurses are killed while they are working to save lives.

Hospitals and medical personnel must be protected by international humanitarian law, and such attacks could be regarded as war crimes, stated Brende.

The Norwegian support will go towards medicines, medical equipment and repair of hospitals. Norway also supports the training of health workers who remain in the country, to treat both acute illnesses and chronic diseases.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today

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