UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — More than 250 medical facilities have been attacked in Syria since the start of civil war, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday, referring to data provided by Physicians for Human Rights, a watchdog advocating against persecution of health workers.
Earlier in the day, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution, condemning the attacks on medical and humanitarian personnel in war-torn countries and urging the parties to armed conflicts to provide humanitarian personnel with protection.
"Since the beginning of the conflict [in Syria], Physicians for Human Rights has documented more than 360 attacks on some 250 medical facilities, more than 730 medical personnel have been killed," Ban said.
He added that at the moment almost a half of all medical facilities in Syria were closed or only partially functioning, while millions of Syrians lacked proper healthcare.
Syria has been in a state of civil war since 2011, with the government forces fighting several opposition factions and militant organizations. The crisis has caused a humanitarian disaster making millions of people flee their country and become refugees.