Manbij IDP camps face shortages of medications, medical personnel
MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, an administrator at a clinic overseeing the Old and New Eastern Manbij camps in eastern Manbij, northern Syria, appealed humanitarian and medical NGOs for medications and medical personnel to address the camps’ needs.
The lack of medical support, shortage of medications, and absence of doctors in the clinic deteriorated the health situation inside both camps, especially with the arrival of winter.
Bashir Bakro, an administrative at the clinic, stated that the clinic, which is the only medical facility in both camps, is experiencing overwhelming patient numbers that exceed its capacity.
In an interview with North Press, the administrator emphasized the significant shortage of medications and the pressing need for specialized doctors to deliver medical care and conduct check-ups. He said that the assistance offered by the Health Committee of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is insufficient to meet these requirements.
In addition, the administrator said that the medications supplied by the Health Committee in Manbij are primarily limited to children’s drugs, including paracetamol, fever reducers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. However, there is a dire need for medications to treat conditions such as asthma, intestinal inflammation, and heart conditions in the camps.
The New Eastern Manbij Camp is inhabited by 625 families, consisting of 3,395 individuals, most of whom are from the Syrian government-held cities of Maskanah and Dayr Hafir. The Old Eastern Manbij Camp houses 387 families, totaling 1,795 individuals.
The clinic administrator stated that they are in urgent need of pediatricians and internal medicine doctors within the clinic, as there are cases the current staff cannot handle, resulting in referrals to the Euphrates Hospital in Manbij.
Bakro appealed to humanitarian and medical organizations to supply the camps’ clinic with medical staff and medications, especially with the onset of winter and the increase in diseases, which exacerbates the suffering of the IDPs.