Syria’s Ya’rubiyah crossing closure badly affects health sector: AANES official
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The closure of Tel Kocher (al-Ya’rubiyah) crossing, has negatively affected the health sector in northeast Syria, the co-chair of the Health Board of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANEs), Jiwan Mustafa, said on Sunday.
“We are in constant contact with the World Health Organization (WHO), in order to bring humanitarian aid and vaccines into northeast Syria,” Mustafa told North Press.
The health sector in the region suffers from the shortage of medical supplies and materials due to the closure of the Tel Kocher crossing, Mustafa said on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Health Board, held in the city of Qamishli.
The process of humanitarian aid access has become very difficult since the crossing was closed a year and a half ago.
The closure of the crossing has posed a major problem for the Autonomous Administration and medical organizations operating in northeast Syria.
The WHO is also facing difficulties in delivering medical aid to areas of the Autonomous Administration, as the only way is through the Syrian government, according to Mustafa.
“Next year will be a year for organizing the health sector, and issuing many regulations and laws,” Mustafa noted.
He pointed out that work is being done on a comprehensive health system throughout northeast Syria, and it will be approved and issued in a conference at a later time.
“An emergency system equipped with all supplies will be activated, as part of the measures related to combating the coronavirus.”
The MRI center in Hasakah will also be equipped, and Shaddadi Hospital will be rehabilitated, in addition to implementing several health care programs, which are among the proposed projects as well, the health official confirmed.