UOSSM’s ‘Syria Solar’ initiative has successfully launched a second solar power system in north western Syria on July 22, 2019, with the support of the Idlib Health Directorate. The facility is one of the key hospitals in northern Syria and specializes in orthopaedics. UOSSM field teams installed the 90 kWp solar photovoltaic system which consisted of; 300 solar photovoltaic panels, 12 inverters, 216 batteries and an advanced data control system. The hospital is expected to save approximately 60,000 liters of diesel fuel per year. This amounts to saving approximately 40-45% of the annual energy cost for the hospital. The system can fully provide uninterrupted electricity for the operating room, emergency department, and other critical services at the hospital during diesel outages. Continue reading

Two paramedics and one driver were killed today in the line of duty as their ambulance was targeted by an airstrike and completely destroyed. They were driving towards the site of another attack in Kafr Zeta, in the Hama Countryside, to help the victims, and were hit by an airstrike at 2:00 p.m. Damascus time. The ambulance was part of the Kafr Zeta Ambulance System, supported by the Hama Health Directorate.  Continue reading

Multiple airstrikes targeted a busy marketplace today in Maarat Al Nouman, Idlib, from 8:36-9:00 a.m. Damascus time, killing at least 37 people. Many of the victims were women and children. Among those killed was a Syrian Civil Defense volunteer (White Helmets) as he was working to save victims of the first attack (known as a 'double tap' attack). Those numbers are expected to rise as bodies are still being pulled from under the rubble. At least 73 civilians have been killed and over 110 were wounded in the past two days in North West Syria as the bombardment continues. Among those killed, two were Syrian Civil Defense Workers (White Helmets), and one was a hospital guard.  Continue reading

On July 10 at 9:40 am Damascus time, an airstrike hit a UOSSM ambulance center in Jisr Al Shughour causing material damage to the ambulances and facility. No injuries or casualties were reported. Continue reading

An ambulance system point was directly targeted today, June 27, at 12:55 pm Damascus time, damaging two ambulances and causing major damage to the building, windows and doors. The facility was put out of service. No casualties were reported. Ambulances are discharged from this point to help those wounded in attacks and transport them to area hospitals. Just one week ago an ambulance, transporting a wounded victim of an attack was targeted by an airstrike killing three paramedics and the patient.     Continue reading

On June 20th at 10:50am, an airstrike in Ma’arat Nu’man, Syria , targeted an ambulance operated by the NGO ‘Violet’, killing three staff and one patient. In the strongest terms, UOSSM condemns the killing of aid workers and the deliberate destruction of medical facilities, which is a clear violation of UNSC 2286 and a war crime.  We stand in solidarity with all aid workers operating in Syria and mourn the loss of these courageous paramedics. Since April 28, 25 medical facilities have been bombed and 60 facilities have suspended operations from fear of attack. Continue reading

The entire medical system of Northern Hama and Southern Idlib, Syria, is in a state of emergency, with 55 medical facilities shut down after a month of continuous bombing.    Continue reading

On May 27, an airstrike in a civilian area of Ariha, Idlib- Syria killed three children and the mother of Fadal Fahham, a mobile clinic driver for UOSSM. The two twin girls (Zain and Sham Fahham) were four years old and the boy (Wesam Fahham) was nine years old. Continue reading

From April 28 to May 21, the heavy bombing of southern Idlib and Hama has left 229 civilians dead and 727 injured. During the same period, 19 medical facilities were bombed and 49 medical facilities were forced to suspend operations due to attacks on medical facilities. Eight humanitarian aid staff were killed and 10 wounded.  The attacks on medical staff and facilities are crippling the medical infrastructure and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without access to medical care. Continue reading