MSF calls on all parties to avoid targeted health facilities in northeast Syria
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders in English on Monday said there were reports that an MSF medical facility was targeted in Kobani in northeast Syria, but rejected it that was a MSF health facility.
“The clinic used to be run by MSF but activities were handed over to the local health authorities in 2019,” MSF said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The clinic is now run by the local Kurdish Red Crescent.
“MSF urges all parties in the conflict to ensure that health facilities – including hospitals, clinics, warehouses - medical staff and patients are protected,” said.
Turkish drones on Monday targeted civilian infrastructure near Kobani, Qahtaniyah (Tirbespi), Qamishlo and Derik.
Moreover, on Saturday, Turkish jets bombed targets near Derik and Qamishlo, after 12 Turkish soldiers were killed in fighting with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants.
Farhad Shami, spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), also said on X, formely known as Twitter, that more than “25 civilian service facilities in north and eastern Syria” were targeted, that led to the death of eight civilians, including two women.
“The Turkish occupation is attempting to export its internal crisis abroad and create a false victory by terrorizing civilians and directly targeting them in an apparent war crime in front of the international community,” he said.
Shami further stated that a dialysis center catering to kidney patients in the Qamishlo region fell victim to Turkish drone attacks, leading to the incapacitation of the facility.
Moreover, SDF Commander-in-Chief Mazloum Abdi called on Turkey to focus on it’s internal issues and address them within the Turkish border. He also called on the international community to stop Turkish attacks and maintain stability in the region.
“The silence of the international community and human rights organizations is a worrying signal,” he said. “We are counting on agreements with the international coalition to avoid aggravation of the situation and the occurrence of a major war.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a speech during the opening ceremony of Sabiha Gökçen Airport on Monday underlined that Turkey “will never take our eyes off our targets, not even for a moment.”
“We will allow neither the terror barons in Qandil and Syria nor those who hold the reins of these traitors to stop us from our path.”
However, Selahattin Demirtas, the imprisoned ex-co-chair of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), on Saturday in his defense in the Kobani trial, criticized the Turkish government and called for peace.
"They need to understand who wants war and who wants peace. If they defend peace in Palestine but imprison those who want peace in their own country and impose isolation, what is it if not hypocrisy?”
“We will continue to act in line with our principles and advocate for peace in all circumstances. If Turkey is mourning for its children today, it is time to hold politicians accountable.”