An exclusive report for Radio Free Syria from Dr. Qasim Al Zein, the head doctor of Al Qusair’s medical team, July 1st, 2013
‘In the name of God the merciful
After the destruction of the field hospital in Al Qusair, we rushed to create several makeshift field hospitals in homes in the town, each with an operating room, a treatment room, an aid room, and a ‘ward’ for patients to lie down in; we have four such homes in different parts of the town due to the difficulty in travelling within the town at present, and send medical teams to each depending on the requirements of each case.
The crippling siege means that it is strictly prohibited [by the regime] to bring in food or medicines, including oxygen; on top of the humanitarian catastrophe we are facing severe problems due to the lack of oxygen and are having to use other methods of anesthesia, which is extremely problematic as operations require oxygen generators and there is very little portable anesthesia apparatus.
Now when patients require anaesthesia we have to ask civilians to provide it manually.
There has been an increase in the number of deaths due to the lack of basic medical supplies, especially new-generation antibiotics and blood transfusion equipment, with a desperate shortage of blood for transfusions, which is always required due to the constant brutal attacks by regime forces and Hezbollah.
Unfortunately we can’t obtain medical supplies because the regime considers this the most serious form of assistance and wishes death for all its opponents, and even non-opponents, including civilians; its missiles and warplanes cannot distinguish between supporter and opponent, or between Muslim and Christian, young or old. Our medical teams do not discriminate; we provide treatment for everyone, regardless of religion, sect or political orientation; we have treated regime troops and even Hezbollah operatives wounded in fighting.
Dealing with such atrocities on a daily basis is extremely difficult and very painful, but the crimes against humanity committed by the regime have made me more determined to work towards its downfall by focusing on the needs of the people and helping them to survive and to live.
There is little point in sending any messages to the United Nations and the international community, who have failed to stop the barbaric attacks by Hezbollah and the Assad regime; I have lost confidence in these organisations. Previously I thought that it was only Israel which was above international law, but we have discovered that Bashar Al Assad and his regime, Iran and Hezbollah are all above international law and the world will do nothing to stop them.
The law of the jungle, not humanitarian principles, is prevailing here, and the world’s humanitarian organisations have failed Syria.’
Pictured: Dr. Al Zein with some of his family
YALLA SOURIYA 