The situation in Eastern Ghouta worries NGOs

(B2) The ICRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross, has issued an appeal in the face of the worsening situation in the enclave of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus

The conflicts in the Eastern Ghouta region are of concern to humanitarian organisations. the International Committee of the Red Cross thus recently underlined the need to provide medical support - medicines and equipment - to the region, " several healthcare facilities have been affected ". Marianne Gasser, head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, calls for " put an end to this murderous madness and insists that " Civilians must not be targeted. In December, the ICRC was able to intervene in Eastern Ghouta, with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and ensure the evacuation of 29 wounded civilians.

Humanitarian convoys in dribs and drabs

While no convoy had been able to access Eastern Ghouta since November 2017, the UN announced that on February 14 “a convoy of the UN and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was able to distribute food, nutrition and health aid ". This convoy is the last and the only one to have passed. " A drop of water compared to the needs on the spot, confirmed a diplomat to B2. That is to say barely 3% “ of the 272.500 people in need in Eastern Ghouta “, according to the coordinator of the United Nations for humanitarian affairs (OCHA), Mr. Al-Za'tari.

Hospitals and clinics systematically bombed

Médecins Sans Frontières, for its part, denounced the bombardment of 13 hospitals and clinics in Eastern Ghouta, in which it intervenes, in the space of three days (from February 18 to 21). " The Syrian army routinely bans or withdraws anesthetics from the few UN/International Committee of the Red Cross convoys allowed inside the enclave » indicates a communicated long.

(NGV with CB and ES)