QRCS Delivers Medical Aid to Hospitals in ,

May 3rd, 2016 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is proceeding with its support of the medical sector in , by providing medications, medical equipment, and fuel to help health facilities absorb the increasing numbers of injuries, amid deteriorating health conditions country­wide due to the conflict.

Lately, QRCS personnel in Syria procured 30,960 liters of fuel to operate power generators at the surgical hospital in , Idlib countryside.

These $17,956 supplies will serve the town's 100,000 population and 70,000 internally displaced people (IDPs).

In coordination with the Health Directorate in Idlib, QRCS is operating and supporting the hospital with fuel, medications, medical consumables, and operational costs.

Working with a capacity of 60 beds and four operating rooms, the hospital is specialized in orthopedics and reconstructive procedures, in addition to general medicine and dermatology clinics.

In western Aleppo countryside, QRCS personnel delivered medical consumables and serums worth $2,365 to the health center of Kafarnaha, to help reduce the pressure on the center's resources, as it is located near to the clash frontlines.

Earlier, a needs assessment was done to identify the workload and shortfalls, and accordingly, the needed types of supplies were provided to serve around 1,500 patients from the local community and IDPs.

In relation to its $200,000 immediate relief intervention launched last week, QRCS is providing medical supplies, fuel, and food aid; operating Al­Sakhour health center for 100,000 beneficiaries in Aleppo City, at a cost of $185,000; securing strategic medical stock for the Health Directorate; providing the municipal council with six water tankers to deliver drinking water to 350,000 inhabitants at a cost of $250,000; arranging for more five tankers at a cost of $500,000; providing 1,850 medical kits, 28,000 liters of fuel, and water purification pills; and supplying $80,000 worth of food aid.

Currently, QRCS is operating and supporting 13 primary health care centers across the northern governorates (Aleppo, Idlib, and ) and the southern governorates (Rif Dimashq and Ghouta).

During the first three months of 2016, these health facilities served 108,776 beneficiaries in total.

Arrangements are currently underway to operate more four health centers in , Houla, , and .

Furthermore, mobile medical clinics were dispatched from Zerbeh, Qadimoun, Khan Al­Sabil, Anjara, Bab Al­Salama, and Al­Janudiyah health centers.

QRCS has already completed the community health project in Idlib; the external monitoring of polio, measles, and rubella vaccination campaigns in cooperation with the Children's Fund (UNICEF); and the emergency response projects for Aqrabat Hospital, Idlib ambulance system, Al­Sakhour health center, and Ghouta ambulance system.

The overall budget of QRCS's medical projects in Syria throughout 2016 exceeds $4 million (more than QR 14.5 million).

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About Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian charitable organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination. QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 190 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several Gulf, Arab, and Islamic assemblies, such as: the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Secretariat­General of the Arab Organization of Red Crescent and Red Cross. In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts, a role that distinguishes it from other local charitable or philanthropic organizations. QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. As a reflection of its long­standing accomplishments and credibility, QRCS's Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Al­ Maadheed, is former Vice­President of the IFRC. Qatar Red Crescent works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. For more information about Qatar Red Crescent, please contact Mr. Fareed Adnan, Head of Media Affairs, Communication Department, Tel.: +974 5583 7338, email: [email protected]. Or you can visit our website: www.qrcs.org.qa, or like and follow our social media pages: Facebook: www.facebook.com/QatarRedCrescent Twitter/ Instgram: @QRCS LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/qatar­red­crescent