Geneva: According to report received, Syria is experiencing critical
shortage in medicines and pharmaceutical products said, the United Nations’
World health organistaion (WHO) on Wednesday.
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| WFP staffer interviewing a Syrian family as a part of needs assessment mission. PHOTO: WFP |
Addressing a presser here in Geneva WHO spokesperson, Tarik Jasarevic
said, “The recent escalation of clashes had resulted in substantial damages to
the pharmaceutical plants located in rural Aleppo, Homs and Rural Damascus,
where 90 per cent of the country’s plants were located.”
“Many of these plants
had now closed down, thus resulting in a critical shortage of medicines, “ he
added,
Prior to the violence which has wracked the Middle Eastern
country, Syria produced 90 per cent of its medicines and drugs locally.
However, this production has slowed down due to insecurity,
the decreased availability of raw materials, sanctions and increased fuel costs
stemming from the violence that has killed an estimated 17,000 people, mostly
civilians, since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 17
months ago.
Over recent days, there have been reports of an escalation
in violence in many towns and villages, as well as the country’s two biggest
cities, Damascus and Aleppo, with the latter reportedly the centre of intense
combat between Government and opposition forces, involving both aerial
bombardments and heavy weaponry.
Among the most urgently needed medicines are drugs to treat
tuberculosis, hepatitis, hypertension, diabetes and cancer, as well as
haemodialysis for kidney diseases, according to WHO. Chemical reagents for
blood screening tests are also urgently needed to ensure the safety and quality
of blood used in surgical and trauma cases.
To ensure access to essential health services – including
life-saving medical and surgical services in directly and indirectly affected
areas – WHO and its health sector partners are supporting trauma management at
primary health care centres and hospitals.
This includes providing support to mobile medical clinics
and outreach services, as well as supporting the procurement and provision of
hygiene kits, medicines, medical equipment and supplies, among other things.
Since the intensification of clashes in Aleppo in July, WFP
has reached close to 46,000 people in the city with urgent food assistance.
Overall, during the month of July, WFP’s food assistance reached 541,575 people
in most of Syria’s governorates – the agency had aimed to reach 850,000 people,
but was prevented from doing so by the violence.