The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Ahmed al-Mandhari, has called on the international community to lift the sanctions imposed on the Syrian people and show solidarity with them to give them a chance to lead a dignified life in which they enjoy health and wellness.
In his statement on the health needs in Syria after his visit to Damascus and Daraa during the past three days, Dr. Mandhari said: “These sanctions are affecting public health and the economic situation, not to mention the resulting shortage of fuel, water and electricity.”
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Mandhari noted that more than 20,000 children under the age of five all over Syria suffer from malnutrition, including 1,500 children who are at risk of developing medical complications due to the lack of medical supplies which resulted from the economic sanctions imposed on the country, which left medical equipment idle due to the inability to import spare parts needed to repair them.
Mandhari warned that many Syrians are still vulnerable to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, which appeared in 6 provinces and killed 23 people and infected 253 others.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
