Gunmen push humanitarian Association to suspend its work in Syria’s Deir ez-Zor
DEIR EZ-ZOR, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, the Sawsan Association for Development and Health Care suspended its work after one month of start in the hospital of the town of al-Busayrah, 35 km east of Deir ez-Zor, east Syria, due to provocations against its employees by armed men.
At the beginning of November, the Sawsan non-governmental association opened a Health Center in al-Busayrah Hospital, and the health staff and employees were appointed after conducting competitions in coordination with the health committee in the town.
However, the association soon suspended its work in the town’s hospital due to armed men’s provocations against its employees, demanding to be forcibly hired, Osama al-Ahmad, director of the association’s office and general coordinator in Deir ez-Zor, said.
“Since the beginning of the association’s work in the town, the armed men used to enter the hospital building every day asking the employees to leave the building and not working until they are hired,” he added.
Yesterday, the gunmen entered the hospital building, closed its doors, and fired randomly in front of the center, and based on the recommendations of the security and safety office, work in al- Busayrah center was suspended, he noted.
The health center was opened in the town of al-Busayrah since it is in the middle of Deir ez-Zor countryside and can cover the health needs of the whole region, according to al-Ahmad.
According to the association’s management, work in the center will be suspended until real guarantees are reached to maintain the security and continuity of the project.
The association’s management sent official letters to the health committee and the organization’s office of the Deir ez-Zor Civil Council about the decision to stop the work, and to hang posters on the walls in this regard so that the community would be aware of this suspension, according to Al-Ahmad.