Syrian Democratic Forces pledge to protect health care workers
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) issued a public statement stressing their commitment to the protection of the healthcare system in North and East Syria and compliance with all relevant international laws and regulations.
In their statement, the SDF pledged to “respect and protect the wounded and sick without discrimination and regardless of affiliation” and “respect and protect healthcare personnel, facilities, and medical transports, irrespective of their affiliation,” which included always allowing access to health facilities and the ill and wounded, and the treatment of all wounded and sick and the protection of them and their property.
The statement added that a Commission for Protection of Health Care would be created to ensure military-civil coordination, and would include military and civil representatives of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria (AANES).
The statement concluded that all SDF members would be trained according to these instructions, from military commanders to field officers and other military personnel, and that those in violation of the SDF’s instructions regarding health care infrastructure and personnel would face penalties according to decisions of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish) and Military Police.