The Kurdish-dominated neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah and Beni Zeyd in Aleppo have been experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis since January 6 under attack by Turkish-backed militia groups affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government.
Officials responsible for health services in the region called for urgent intervention from the international community, stating that civilian casualties were increasing and medical resources were reaching the point of exhaustion.
Dr. Osman Şêx Îsa, Co-Chair of the Health Council of the neighborhoods under attack, drew attention to the ongoing tragedy and stated the following: “There is an intense attack on the neighborhoods with heavy weapons. Over 60 civilians have been injured so far. Currently, an injured citizen has lost his life despite all medical interventions. There is no limit to these attacks. The issue is not military forces; all roads, homes, women, children, and the elderly are being targeted.”
The doctor emphasized that the blockade prevented doctors from reaching the area, stating, “There are few doctors. The shortage of doctors and lack of medicine at the Martyr Xalid Fecir Hospital in Sheikh Maqsud is causing difficulties. At the same time, the hospital may be completely out of service tomorrow or the day after due to the lack of fuel for the generators that supply electricity to the hospital.”
Describing the scale of the crisis in the region, Dr. Şêx Îsa stressed that the injured citizens were left in the streets and could not be transferred to hospitals due to the attacks, saying, “There is a humanitarian crisis in these neighborhoods. A massacre is taking place here. Injured citizens are left lying on the ground, and no one is allowed to reach them. Those who try to come to the hospital to provide services cannot get here. There is no way to transfer those injured to another hospital.”
The doctor concluded: “This is our call for urgent intervention. Humanitarian and moral responsibility is essential. As a doctor, being unable to help the injured is morally and ethically challenging. We call for this issue to be resolved as soon as possible.”