MSF denounces Syrian regime's airstrikes on hospitals

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) denounced Syrian regime's recent air strikes on and next to nine hospitals across Idlib province, in northwest Syria, including three hospitals supported by MSF.

These attacks took place over a period of four days, between August 7 and 10, and indicate an increasing pattern of healthcare structures and civilians being affected as a result of the ongoing war, the organization reported.

Among those killed in the strikes were three hospital staff members, one patient and seven civilians. Seven hospital staff members were wounded, along with six patients and over 18 civilians.

A dialysis center providing much-needed treatment to a catchment population of 30,000 people remains closed as a result of the airstrikes, and patients must now travel close 70 kilometers in an insecure environment to access treatment, the MSF said.

Services in other hospitals were also affected, including surgery, orthopedics and physiotherapy. Two ambulances, a generator and a laboratory were destroyed by the missile strikes, while three ambulances were also left damaged, it added.

MSF's head of mission for Syria Sylvain Groulx described the attacks as part of an ongoing and devastating trend towards more targeted attacks on healthcare services across the country.