Syrian crisis results in hospital closures

Man inspects damage at Dar al-Shifa hospital Damascus - Arab Today Director of Damascus Countryside Health Department, Rashed Mazloum, stated that "terrorist acts" in the province have resulted in the closure of 67 hospitals and health centres. The official pointed out that most of these establishments are located in areas where it is "difficult to estimate the scale of damage" due to the ongoing Syrian crisis. The damaged establishments include the hospitals of Douma, Harasta, Daraya, al-Mleiha and al-Basel in Yabroud, in addition to 25 private hospitals and 36 health centres, whilst only nine centres are partially operation, Mazloum said, adding that 131 health centres are still operating normally. He pointed out that work is underway to repair health centres in several areas including Jdaidet Yabous, al-Kisweh, Harasta and Jaramana, confirming that the budget of the projects listed on the Health Department's investment plan for 2013 is SYP 270 million. Source: SANA