For the second time in less than a month‚ a Gift of the Givers hospital was caught up in the middle of fighting in war-torn Syria.
On July 8‚ the South African-based aid organisation’s facility in Darkoush was a scene of chaos after a rocket strike just 400m away left 22 dead and dozens injured. Now‚ at shortly after midday South African time on Monday‚ the Al Hilal Hospital came under attack.
Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman said: “It was a drone attack that struck 100m away from the hospital. Fortunately there was no damage and no injuries.”
The hospital is near the Syrian border with Turkey. The hospital was opened in September last year and treats about 7500 patients‚ does about 3000 laboratory investigations‚ 1000 X-rays and 350 admissions monthly.
While this is the first time that Al Hilal Hospital has been targeted‚ it is not a new experience for a Gift of the Givers-run facility.
Apart from last month’s strike‚ the Ar Rahma Hospital in Darkoush was also targeted in May last year. While the organisation’s team was on duty in Nepal following a deadly earthquake‚ news came through that the windows and doors of the hospital had been “blown away” following an air strike. The hospital was repaired and upgraded in the wake of the incident.
“We are under no illusion that further attacks are going to follow on both our hospitals. The medical teams serve with absolute dedication and commitment knowing full well that they are at extremely high risk. Many of the medical personnel have come from other medical facilities that were totally bombed and now are serving at our hospitals‚” said Sooliman. — TMG Digital/The Times
Gift of the Givers hospital targeted in Syria air strike
For the second time in less than a month‚ a Gift of the Givers hospital was caught up in the middle of fighting in war-torn Syria.
On July 8‚ the South African-based aid organisation’s facility in Darkoush was a scene of chaos after a rocket strike just 400m away left 22 dead and dozens injured. Now‚ at shortly after midday South African time on Monday‚ the Al Hilal Hospital came under attack.
Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman said: “It was a drone attack that struck 100m away from the hospital. Fortunately there was no damage and no injuries.”
The hospital is near the Syrian border with Turkey. The hospital was opened in September last year and treats about 7500 patients‚ does about 3000 laboratory investigations‚ 1000 X-rays and 350 admissions monthly.
While this is the first time that Al Hilal Hospital has been targeted‚ it is not a new experience for a Gift of the Givers-run facility.
Apart from last month’s strike‚ the Ar Rahma Hospital in Darkoush was also targeted in May last year. While the organisation’s team was on duty in Nepal following a deadly earthquake‚ news came through that the windows and doors of the hospital had been “blown away” following an air strike. The hospital was repaired and upgraded in the wake of the incident.
“We are under no illusion that further attacks are going to follow on both our hospitals. The medical teams serve with absolute dedication and commitment knowing full well that they are at extremely high risk. Many of the medical personnel have come from other medical facilities that were totally bombed and now are serving at our hospitals‚” said Sooliman. — TMG Digital/The Times
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