The MSF-supported structure in Idlib was hit by 4 rockets, at least 8 staff are missing
A makeshift children's hospital has been destroyed by an suspected Russian air strike in northern Syria, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens.
The 30-bed hospital in the town of Azaz near the Turkish border was hit four times in two series of at least two attacks within a few minutes of each other on Monday, Doctors Without Borders (also know by its French acronym MSF) who support the medical centre said.
At least two children are reportedly among those killed and ambulances have transported scores of injured children to Turkey for treatment. A statement from MSF confirmed at least eight members of staff were missing.
"We have been moving scores of screaming children from the hospital," said medic Juma Rahal.
MSF have supported the hospital, which had 54 staff two operating theatres, an outpatients department and an emergency room, since September 2015.
The humanitarian medical organisation covered all the needs of the hospital including provision of medical supplies and running costs.
A school and a refugee centre have also allegedly been hit by bombs dropped by jets believed to be Russian, according to residents.
Massimiliano Rebaudengo, MSF’s Head of Mission, told the Independent: “This appears to be a deliberate attack on a health structure, and we condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms.
“The destruction of the hospital leaves the local population of around 40,000 people without access to medical services in an active zone of conflict.
An MSF spokeswoman previously said: "We can confirm that an MSF-supported structure in Marat Al Numan in Idlib, northern Syria was destroyed this morning in air strikes. We are currently gathering more information about the attack but have nothing more to share as yet."
MSF International said over Twitter they believe four rockets were involved in the air strike.
Speaking by telephone from Maaret al-Numan, Tahya al-Sobeih, an opposition activist said: “The entire building collapsed to the ground.”
He added five people were killed near the clinic and “all members of the medical team inside are believed to be dead”. This has not been confirmed by MSF.
He said paramedics were now working to remove the rubble.
Alleged footage of the incident has been posted on social media, however MSF say the are unable to verify it.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks casualties in Syria’s five-year civil war, suggested Russian warplanes targeted the makeshift hospital, destroying it and killing and wounding dozens.
The strike comes after just days after Russia and other world powers agreed to a limited cessation of hostilities after talks in Munich.
Speaking during a visit to Ukraine on Monday the Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also said a Russian ballistic missile had hit a school and hospital in the northern Syrian town.
He said the Kurdish YPG militia had closed the humanitarian border north of the Syrian city of Aleppo, and Moscow's aim was to leave the international community with just two options in Syria: President Bashar al-Assad or Islamic State.
Syrian troops have been on the offensive in northern Syria under the cover of Russian air strikes over the past week. The ground offensive has been focused on the northern province of Aleppo while Monday’s air strike struck the clinic in near-by Idlib province.
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/air-strike-destroys-syrian-medical-centre-a6874676.html
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