RINJ Workers in Syria head to Gaziantep clinic and north Syria

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Two surgeons and seven nurses have traveled to the RSAC clinic inside Turkey in Gaziantep. Workers in Iraq, and in Syria’s Dier Ezzor, Id Lib, and Aleppo have loaded food, medical supplies and sundries including tents, blankets and rubber footwear and are heading to the Syrian border with Turkey or are there already to assist people who have been left homeless by damaged buildings or compromised shelters or persons who are vulnerable due to freezing wet winter conditions coupled with aftershock risk.

“None of our people in Gaziantep have been injured and they are on the job. Many hospitals have been damaged so we are bringing in mobile units,” explains Geraldine Frisque, spokesperson for The RINJ Foundation.

“We are worried about the public sheltering near or inside damaged structures during rain and snow weather events while an aftershock risk exists and will continue to exist maybe even for weeks in the area, the Turkish authorities tell us.  Already one of our workers in Gazientep has reported a trauma injury due to an accident caused by a sliding corrugated metal roof. There will be aftershocks. People are urged to seek uncompromised shelter,” Ms. Frisque added.

“We are waiting to hear from Dr. Buni and Dr. Nassima al Amouri who since shortly after midnight have sped into action. Many cell phone towers have been knocked down it seems, but some communications are working so we expect updates very soon,” she added.

“Crossing into Turkey we know has been straightforward. Just produce your medical credentials. Several of our nurses have worked previously in Gaziantep and are licensed in Turkey. They know the area and the people and have joined their former colleagues in Gaziantep,” Ms. Frisque replied to a question.

Syria in desperate situation

Photo supplied via Telegram.

Having heard from Dr. Nassima al Amouri just before publication FPM.news learned that Syria is in a state of humanitarian catastrophe and while civil workers are digging out survivors as they have done for years from bombed out structures, they have nowhere to send or take survivors.

Nassima and some of her Syrian teams have commandeered two buses to use as temporary shelters in an area north of Id Lib east of Aleppo center as best we can understand at this time.

Dr. al Amouri reports that the RINJ workers and volunteers have managed to equip the busses with propane heaters in case petrol becomes unavailable.  They also intend to exploit this idea to the greatest possible extent. In response to a question, Dr. Al Amouri said simply, “The weather is terrible. This is no place to be homeless.”

Additionally, Dr. al Amouri reports that their teams have amassed over 200 volunteers from their communities, many with trucks and many since the middle of the night have moved into place and are treating injured who have suffered from the quake or from weather once they were made homeless by collapsed structures.