Some of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo tell Obama tears are not enough: 'We need action' - Los Angeles Times
Advertisement

Some of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo tell Obama tears are not enough: ‘We need action’

Share via

In an open letter to President Obama, 15 of the last remaining doctors in Aleppo called on the U.S. to intervene in the war-ravaged city.

“We have seen no effort on behalf of the United States to lift the siege or even use its influence to push the parties to protect civilians,” they wrote.

The letter went on to describe how the doctors have faced death on a daily basis for the last five years as the international community did little to protect them. In the last month in Syria, it said, there have been 42 attacks on hospitals and clinics.

Advertisement

“Right now, there is an an attack on a medical facility every 17 hours,” the letter said.

The doctors serve 300,000 people in the eastern, rebel-controlled part of the city. Six do pediatric work.

They wrote that they often have to choose which adult or child will live and which will die. Those with better chances of survival get priority.

“Despite the horror, we choose to be here,” the letter said. “We took a pledge to help those in need.”

Advertisement

The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights released a report this month saying that Aleppo had been under attack for 80 straight days, with 6,000 people either killed or injured.

The city has been an important battleground between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and the armed opposition arrayed against him.

Last week, a loose alliance of hard-line Islamist rebels spearheaded a powerful offensive on the city’s southwest side that broke a siege by government forces.

Advertisement

On Thursday, the government, bolstered by forces from Iran and the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah, launched a major counteroffensive aimed at reimposing the siege.

The letter from the doctors ends with a plea for help: “We do not need tears or sympathy or even prayers, we need your action. Prove that you are friends of Syrians.”

Special correspondent Bulos reported from Beirut. Staff writer Shalby reported from Los Angeles.

ALSO

A Syrian city has gone without running water for five days, U.N. says

Advertisement

Syrian rebels may be turning the tables on Assad’s troops in Aleppo

Doctors travel a dangerous road to help ease the horrors of war-torn Aleppo, Syria

Advertisement