Al-Ghubash: Terrorist war and unilateral measures have had repercussions on health situation in Syria

GENEVA, May.25, (ST)- The Minister of Health Hassan Al-Ghubash affirmed on Wednesday that the terrorist war on Syria, the occupation of parts of its lands, and the unilateral and inhumane measures have left serious repercussions and challenges on the health situation and have obstructed the development and caused the citizen to lose accumulated achievements that lasted for many years of human development. 

 

Addressing  the 75th  session of the World Health Assembly being held in Geneva, Al-Ghabash stressed that despite the challenges imposed by the terrorist war, the Syrian state continued to provide health services throughout its territory with all its available capabilities. 

 

He expressed Syria’s appreciation for the contribution provided by the organization in support of the efforts being exerted to rebuild the health system, Which was damaged as a result of the terrorist war and unilateral coercive measures that weakened its ability to provide distinguished health services that the state has been providing to its citizens.

 

“The outbreak of Covid-19 epidemic, has caused enormous social and economic consequences,” the minister said,  referring to the importance of the values of pluralism, cooperation and international solidarity in addressing common dangers, and that the approach of unilateralism and isolationism does not provide sustainable solutions to problems that threaten all humanity. 

  

He clarified that the Ministry of Health is launching  vaccine campaigns against the virus to limit the spread of the epidemic by immunizing the largest possible number of citizens. However, the failure to reach the vaccine in time caused the failure to achieve the planned coverage rates. 

 

Moreover, the minister indicated that the health conditions in the occupied Syrian Golan and occupied Palestine, including Jerusalem, are still witnessing a significant decline as a result of the Israeli attacks, illegal settlement operations and the racist practices of the occupation authorities. 

 

He emphasized Syria’s condemnation of the occupation authorities’ preventing the World Health Organization from assessing the health conditions in the occupied Golan in an implementation of decisions of the World Health Assembly. 

 

“Syria also condemns the attacks against Palestinians and their facilities, including 235 health care facilities, which caused the death of 257 Palestinians and the injury of 2,367 others, according to the report of the Director-General,” Al-Ghabbash added. 

 

He stressed that Israel must implement its legal obligations as the occupying power and allow the organization to deliver aid to the people of the occupied Syrian Golan and conduct a field assessment of their health conditions in a way that respects their legal status as an occupied land without preconditions.

 

The Minister in addition spoke about Syria’s demand to adopt a non-discriminatory approach that responds to health emergencies in and around Ukraine and rejects politicized initiatives targeting Russia selectively. 

 

The work of the 75th session of the World Health Assembly started last Sunday and will last until next Saturday, and its agenda includes drawing up policies for health systems and services and shedding light on public health issues, including the Corona pandemic. 

 

Basma Qaddour