Russian Forces Target Over 50 Medical Centers in Syria
Since the start of their intervention in Syria, Russian Forces have targeted no less than 59 medical centers according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR). The SNHR reports that at least 86 civilians were killed during these attacks, including 13 women, 8 children and 26 medical personnel.
44 of the medical facilities targeted were in areas under the control of armed opposition forces, including 24 in Aleppo and 13 facilities in Idlib. The remaining 15 facilities targeted were in areas under the control of ISIS, the bulk of which were in Al Raqqa.
Fadel Abdul Ghani, chairman of SNHR, says: “Russian forces’ attacks on medical centers and medics are a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law and amount to a war crime on account of the fact that these attacks are indiscriminate and in many cases deliberately targeted protected objects. These attacks have deepened the agonies of the wounded and injured and is one of the main causes of the displacement of the Syrian people as it sends a very clear message: there is no safe area or a red line including hospitals, you either flee or perish.”
Russian Forces have violated Security Council Resolutions 2139 and violated international humanitarian laws and committed war crimes through the attacks on medical centers.