Cancer patients suffer from conflict in Syria’s Idlib region

IDLIB, Syria (AA) – The ongoing conflict in Syria is affecting cancer patients in Syria’s opposition-controlled Idlib province.

According to locals, the Syrian army and Russia are continuously shelling health infrastructure in the region.

About 3,200 cancer patients need treatment in Idlib.

According to Idlib’s health director, Dr. Zuheyr Karrat, a hospital project for cancer treatment is being planned, but is not expected to be completed for another 18 months.

He said 323 cancer patients are being treated in Turkey, but the number of patients “exceeds the capacity Turkey can handle alone.”

Karrat said of the 3,200 patients, 608 needed immediate treatment.

Mohammed Sattuf, an 11-year-old cancer patient, expressed a desire to be treated so he could “breathe and eat like a normal person.”

Firas Mansur, a local activist, stressed that sending patients to Turkey is not a comprehensive solution to the problem.

He called on the U.N., international organizations and Arab countries to take responsibility and establish a treatment center in Idlib.

Mansur stated that the health sector in Idlib is fragile, as the health infrastructure has been the target of airstrikes in Syria since 2015.

“We demand supplying drugs and medical equipment,” he said.

Rami Sayyid, a media worker in Idlib, stressed the need for an emergency cancer center to prevent further casualties.

“This is a humanitarian crisis. The number of patients is quite high. A treatment center should be established urgently for them. Otherwise, we will lose someone every day,” Sayyid said.