Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Damascus, SANA- Health Minister, Dr. Hassan Al-Ghabbash, announced on Thursday that the death toll from the earthquake rose to 1,347 and the injuries to 2,295.
In a press conference, al-Ghabbash stressed that the suffering of Syrian medical personnel is not a result of the earthquake but rather of Western sanctions imposed on Syria for 12 years.
Al-Ghabbash said that from the first moments of the earthquake, the Health ministry’s emergency room was mobilized to coordinate the response and send ambulances, mobile clinics and supply trucks to the most affected provinces.
He said that, in a few hours, the personnel and medical materials were transferred to the affected areas, which allowed the national health sector to respond quickly and responsibly to those affected by the earthquake, and to ensure an urgent response.
The Minister added that the hospitals and health centers are working at their maximum capacity and 24 hours a day to provide medical services to those most in need and in the best possible conditions,adding that one of the most important priorities and challenges is to continue to provide health services in shelters and to prepare for any emergency.
Al-Ghabbash affirmed that we are determined to provide services to Syrian citizens despite all the circumstances and challenges, and the Syrian state has largely succeeded.
He said that the medical teams of the Syrian Arab Army made great efforts, whether in the rescue or in the military hospitals, and made a positive contribution to relief and treatment operations.
Al-Ghabbash said that great effort by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, which supported the work of the Ministry of Health from the very beginning and made extensive efforts in coordination with brother and friendly countries.
The Minister added that the shortfall caused by Western sanctions will be made up through the concerted efforts of all government institutions with private sector institutions, trade unions, non-governmental organizations and civil society.
He pointed out that the scale of the disaster is large, and we must provide medical equipment, supplies, and medicines to save those affected by this humanitarian disaster.
The Minister called on the member States of the UN, the General Secretariat of the international organization, its specialized agencies and funds, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide assistance to Syria to face the quake disaster.
Al-Ghabbash said “We thank the brotherly and friendly countries that provided medical and health assistance, and we thank all the medical and rescue teams that arrived”.
MHD Ibrahim
