The Health Council of the Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah and Beni Zeyd neighborhoods of Aleppo has issued an urgent warning about the collapse of the local health system. In a public statement on Sunday, representatives of the council denounced the ongoing siege, which has completely cut off access to essential goods such as fuel, medicine, and electricity.
The statement was read out in front of the Xalid Fecir Hospital in Sheikh Maqsoud by Firyal Arif, Deputy Co-Chair of the Council, and academic Zozan Dehar in the presence of numerous healthcare workers from the affected neighborhoods.
Healthcare system is about to collapse completely
The statement pointed out that armed groups affiliated with the Syrian transitional government’s Ministry of Defense have been blocking all access roads and crossings to the three neighborhoods for weeks. As a result, it said, supplies of diesel, gasoline, gas, and medicine have come to a complete standstill. The power supply has also been largely cut off.
The impact on public life and medical infrastructure is devastating, the statement warned. The Xalid Fecir Hospital, the only major medical facility in the region, has been particularly affected. Due to a lack of electricity and heating oil, several key departments have had to cease operations, including the neonatal intensive care unit. The risk to the lives of seriously ill patients, premature babies, and the chronically ill is increasing daily, according to the statement.
Cold temperatures exacerbate the situation
The situation is further exacerbated by the winter temperatures. The Health Council warned of an increase in respiratory diseases, especially among children and the elderly. Many households resorted to dangerous emergency solutions due to a lack of heating, which increases the risk of poisoning and fires. The supply of clean water, education, and hygiene is severely limited. Thousands of schoolchildren are currently unable to attend regular educational institutions, the Council said.
Accusations of collective punishment
In its statement, the Health Council held the relevant institutions of the transitional government and the Aleppo Provincial Council directly responsible for the worsening situation. It said the action amounted to collective punishment of the civilian population and constituted a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights agreements. The spokespersons called for the immediate lifting of the embargo, unrestricted access to aid supplies, and compliance with international standards. The blockade, they said, not only constituted a humanitarian crisis, but also endangered the stability of the region.