World Medical Association Urges Immediate Truce in Aleppo

The World Medical Association has repeated its call for an immediate truce in the siege of Aleppo.

WMA President Dr. Ketan Desai has issued another urgent plea to the United Nations and all its members to support an urgent ceasefire to enable medical care to be given to the thousands of people trapped in the city.

He said: ‘What we are seeing today is a breakdown of civilization leading to a catastrophic death toll, millions of people being driven from their homes and thousands of people under siege. We appeal to the UN Security Council to put humanitarian action before political objectives. The people of Aleppo are in need of immediate medical care and medical supplies and it is our moral and ethical duty to respond’.

He repeated the WMA’s call for an immediate and impartial enquiry into the attacks on the city and for action to be taken against those responsible.

Since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011, an estimated 270 health care facilities have been attacked and 760 health care workers have been killed. Dr. Desai said it was essential that all medical personnel and facilities were protected and respected so that they could assist the population.