Airstrikes Hit Multiple Syrian Hospitals Supported By UNICEF, MSF As Fighting Escalates

New York Times: Syrian Hospitals Hit as Battlefield Grows More Chaotic
“…As always, caught in the middle are civilians, with four hospitals bombed in a single day on Monday, and Turkey and the Syrian insurgents accusing Russia of targeting them deliberately to drive them out of the area. Two of the hospitals were supported by UNICEF, including a pediatric and maternity hospital, and at least 50 people were killed in all of the attacks, including children, said Farhan Haq, a United Nations spokesman…” (Barnard et al., 2/15).

PBS NewsHour: In Syria, airstrikes on hospitals and school kill dozens
“…In a statement, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said, ‘We at UNICEF are appalled by reports of attacks against four medical facilities in Syria … Apart from compelling considerations of diplomacy and obligations under international humanitarian law, let us remember that these victims are children’…” (2/15).

Reuters: MSF-backed hospital in Syria destroyed by air strikes — statement
“…A hospital supported by medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the Idlib province of northern Syria was ‘deliberately’ hit by air strikes on Monday and eight people are missing, MSF said in a statement…” (Irish/Pennetier, 2/15).

U.N. News Centre: UNICEF chief ‘appalled’ by reports of attacks on hospitals, schools in northern Syria
“…Two of the strikes occurred at Azaz in Aleppo and another two occurred in Idlib, where one of the hospitals was reportedly struck four times. In addition, UNICEF said there are reports that two schools were attacked at Azaz, reportedly killing six children…” (2/15).

VOA News: U.N.: Nearly 50 Dead in Strikes on Syrian Medical Facilities, Schools
“… ‘Such attacks are a blatant violation of international laws,’ U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, according to his spokesman…” (Dettmer, 1/15).

Wall Street Journal: Hospitals in Syria Bombed as Fighting Escalates
“Violence in northern Syria escalated Monday, casting deep doubt on a planned cease-fire as the U.S. accused the Assad regime and its ally Russia of bombing civilian hospitals…” (Dagher et al., 2/15).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400
Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

www.kff.org | Email Alerts: kff.org/email | facebook.com/KFF | twitter.com/kff

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.