Washington DC- UOSSM participated in the evacuation of over 2000 people from Wadi Barada (Damascus suburb) starting January 29 near midnight to January 30 at 3:30 p.m. Damascus time. The evacuees were taken to Qalaat al Madeeq in the suburbs of Hama. UOSSM provided 12 ambulances: three ambulances for normal cases, nine for critical cases, along with one mobile clinic, and one child protection team. The rest of the evacuees were transported in 47 buses.
UOSSM and other NGOs treated 65 patients; 14 were in critical condition. All patients were transferred to a triage point at the local area hospital.
Dr. Khaula Sawah, CEO of UOSSM USA said, ” We call on the international community and the UN to ensure the civilians of Wadi Barada, and all other besieged areas throughout Syria have access to humanitarian aid. These evacuations have caused a sharp rise in the internally displaced and we need to ensure that they are receiving the aid and care they need.”