Damascus, 31 July 2014 – Subsequent to an agreement with the Syrian government and the opposition, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have delivered surgical and medical assistance to besieged eastern Aleppo and communities in Mouadamiya in Rural Damascus.

Yesterday, following a ceasefire between the government and the opposition, 10 metric tonnes of surgical supplies, including antibiotics, sterile gauze, syringes and catheters, as well as chronic disease medicines for over 22 300 people were delivered from Damascus through the Boustan Al-Qasser crossing to four hospitals in eastern Aleppo city.

On 28 July 2014, WHO and SARC delivered 5 metric tonnes of medical assistance to Mouadamiya in Rural Damascus to support a population of 24 000 people in need. 50 000 treatments of antibiotics, multivitamins for children, and chronic disease medicines sufficient for two months were provided to Mouadamiya’s functioning but under-resourced health centre. This is the first time medical assistance has reached the area since October 2012.

“These unprecedented deliveries will bring much needed surgical supplies and medical treatments to vulnerable populations in two of the most hard-to-reach and deprived areas in Syria,” said Elizabeth Hoff, WHO Representative in Syria. She added that: WHO is working with partners and the Syrian health authorities to turn these deliveries into a long-term plan for both areas.

The humanitarian situation in eastern Aleppo and Mouadamiya has been critical, with both areas reporting severe shortages of basic medicines and life-saving supplies. Lack of basic medicines and surgical supplies has been reported in both of these areas since the onset of the conflict in 2011.

These deliveries come in the framework of the Security Council Resolution 2165 (2014) which authorized and eased aid delivery to over 10.8 million Syrians in need through the most direct routes. WHO Syria is working closely with the Syrian health authorities to facilitate the implementation of this resolution.

Since the beginning of 2014, WHO has delivered life-saving medical assistance to over 7 million Syrians in need across the country, including in besieged, hard-to-reach and opposition-controlled areas.

For more information, please contact:

Karim Shukr
Media and Communication Officer in Syria
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Mobile: +963953888470