Latest news with #Rouba


Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Health
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syria's Hospital in Sweida a ‘Mass Grave'
In the last barely-functional hospital in Sweida, bodies are overflowing from the morgue, staff said, amid violence that has wracked the Druze-majority southern Syrian city for nearly a week. 'It's not a hospital anymore, it's a mass grave,' Rouba, a member of the medical staff at the city's sole government hospital, told AFP, weeping as she appealed for aid. Dr. Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria's Order of Physicians, said the facility has received 'more than 400 bodies since Monday morning,' including women, children and the elderly. 'There's no more space in the morgue, the bodies are out on the street' in front of the hospital, he told AFP. Fighting erupted Sunday night between Druze fighters and local Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened on Monday with the stated intention of quelling the violence. The government forces withdrew from the city on Thursday following Israeli airstrikes on southern Syria and the capital, Damascus. In the hospital on Friday, corridors were engulfed by the stench of the dead bodies, which had bloated beyond recognition, an AFP correspondent said. Visibly overwhelmed, the handful of medical personnel remaining at the facility nonetheless rushed to do their best to offer care to the seemingly endless stream of wounded, many of them waiting in the hallways. 'There are only nine doctors and medical staff left, and they are working nonstop,' said Rouba, who preferred not to give her full name. 'The situation is very bad, we have no water and no electricity, medicines are starting to run out,' Rouba continued. 'There are people who have been at home for three days and we can't manage to rescue them,' she said. 'The bodies are on the streets and no one can go out to get them. Yesterday, five big cars filled with bodies arrived at the hospital,' Rouba added. 'There are women, children, people whose identities are unknown, cut-off arms or legs.' The United Nations on Friday urged an end to the bloodshed, demanding 'independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'Mass grave': Medics appeal for aid at last working hospital in Syria's Sweida
In the last barely-functional hospital in Sweida, bodies are overflowing from the morgue, staff said, amid violence that has wracked the Druze-majority southern Syrian city for nearly a week. "It's not a hospital anymore, it's a mass grave," said Rouba, a member of the medical staff at the city's sole government hospital, weeping as she appealed for aid. Dr Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria's Order of Physicians, said the facility has received "more than 400 bodies since Monday morning", including women, children and the elderly. "There's no more space in the morgue, the bodies are out on the street" in front of the hospital, he continued. Fighting erupted Sunday night between Druze fighters and local Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened on Tuesday with the stated intention of quelling the violence. But in the subsequent events, those government forces were accused of grave abuses against the minority, according to rights organisations, witnesses and Druze groups. The government forces withdrew from the city on Thursday following threats from Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze. In the hospital on Friday, corridors were engulfed by the stench of the dead bodies, which had bloated beyond recognition, an AFP correspondent said. Visibly overwhelmed, the handful of medical personnel remaining at the facility nonetheless rushed to do their best to offer care to the seemingly endless stream of wounded, many of them waiting in the hallways. "There are only nine doctors and medical staff left, and they are working nonstop," said Rouba, who preferred not to give her full name. - 'No water, no electricity' - "The situation is very bad, we have no water and no electricity, medicines are starting to run out," Rouba continued. "There are people who have been at home for three days and we can't manage to rescue them," she said. "The bodies are on the streets and no one can go out to get them. Yesterday, five big cars filled with bodies arrived at the hospital. "There are women, children, people whose identities are unknown, cut-off arms or legs." The United Nations on Friday urged an end to the bloodshed, demanding "independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence has claimed the lives of nearly 600 people since Sunday. Omar Obeid told AFP that three of his colleagues were killed, including one who was "shot dead in his house, in front of his family". Another was killed at point-blank range in her car as she drove through a security checkpoint, he said. The third, "surgeon Talaat Amer was killed while he was at the hospital on Tuesday in a blue surgical gown to perform his duty", Obeid said. "They shot him in the head. Then they called his wife and told her: your husband was wearing a surgical cap -- it's red now." at/jsa/dcp Solve the daily Crossword

Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
‘Mass grave': Medics appeal for aid at last working hospital in Syria's Sweida
Find out what's new on ST website and app. A health worker and other men walk amid the bodies of victims laid out for identification in a hospital yard in Sweida on July 17. SWEIDA - In the last barely-functional hospital in Sweida, bodies are overflowing from the morgue, staff said, amid violence that has wracked the Druze-majority southern Syrian city for nearly a week. 'It's not a hospital anymore, it's a mass grave,' said Ms Rouba, a member of the medical staff at the city's sole government hospital, weeping as she appealed for aid. Dr Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria's Order of Physicians, said the facility has received 'more than 400 bodies since Monday morning', including women, children and the elderly. 'There's no more space in the morgue, the bodies are out on the street' in front of the hospital, he continued. Fighting erupted on the night of July 13 between Druze fighters and local Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened on Tuesday with the stated intention of quelling the violence. But in the subsequent events, those government forces were accused of grave abuses against the minority, according to rights organisations, witnesses and Druze groups. The government forces withdrew from the city on July 17 following threats from Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam Singapore What is UNC3886, the group that attacked Singapore's critical information infrastructure? Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Asia Indonesia court jails former trade minister for 4½ years in sugar graft case Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student accused of using AI in essay; panel found 14 false citations or data Singapore 7-year-old girl, cabby taken to hospital after vehicle pile-up in City Hall area Singapore Former NUH male nurse charged after he allegedly molested man at hospital In the hospital on July 18, corridors were engulfed by the stench of the dead bodies, which had bloated beyond recognition, an AFP correspondent said. Visibly overwhelmed, the handful of medical personnel remaining at the facility nonetheless rushed to do their best to offer care to the seemingly endless stream of wounded, many of them waiting in the hallways. 'There are only nine doctors and medical staff left, and they are working nonstop,' said Ms Rouba, who preferred not to give her full name. 'No water, no electricity' 'The situation is very bad, we have no water and no electricity, medicines are starting to run out,' Ms Rouba continued. 'There are people who have been at home for three days and we can't manage to rescue them,' she said. 'The bodies are on the streets and no one can go out to get them. Yesterday, five big cars filled with bodies arrived at the hospital. 'There are women, children, people whose identities are unknown, cut-off arms or legs.' The United Nations on July 18 urged an end to the bloodshed, demanding 'independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations'. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence has claimed the lives of nearly 600 people since July 13. Dr Omar Obeid told AFP that three of his colleagues were killed, including one who was 'shot dead in his house, in front of his family'. Another was killed at point-blank range in her car as she drove through a security checkpoint, he said. The third, 'surgeon Talaat Amer was killed while he was at the hospital on July 15 in a blue surgical gown to perform his duty', Dr Obeid said. 'They shot him in the head. Then they called his wife and told her: your husband was wearing a surgical cap – it's red now.' AFP


France 24
4 days ago
- Health
- France 24
'Mass grave': Medics appeal for aid at last working hospital in Syria's Sweida
"It's not a hospital anymore, it's a mass grave," said Rouba, a member of the medical staff at the city's sole government hospital, weeping as she appealed for aid. Dr Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria's Order of Physicians, said the facility has received "more than 400 bodies since Monday morning", including women, children and the elderly. "There's no more space in the morgue, the bodies are out on the street" in front of the hospital, he continued. Fighting erupted Sunday night between Druze fighters and local Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened on Tuesday with the stated intention of quelling the violence. But in the subsequent events, those government forces were accused of grave abuses against the minority, according to rights organisations, witnesses and Druze groups. The government forces withdrew from the city on Thursday following threats from Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze. In the hospital on Friday, corridors were engulfed by the stench of the dead bodies, which had bloated beyond recognition, an AFP correspondent said. Visibly overwhelmed, the handful of medical personnel remaining at the facility nonetheless rushed to do their best to offer care to the seemingly endless stream of wounded, many of them waiting in the hallways. "There are only nine doctors and medical staff left, and they are working nonstop," said Rouba, who preferred not to give her full name. 'No water, no electricity' "The situation is very bad, we have no water and no electricity, medicines are starting to run out," Rouba continued. "There are people who have been at home for three days and we can't manage to rescue them," she said. "The bodies are on the streets and no one can go out to get them. Yesterday, five big cars filled with bodies arrived at the hospital. "There are women, children, people whose identities are unknown, cut-off arms or legs." The United Nations on Friday urged an end to the bloodshed, demanding "independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence has claimed the lives of nearly 600 people since Sunday. Omar Obeid told AFP that three of his colleagues were killed, including one who was "shot dead in his house, in front of his family". Another was killed at point-blank range in her car as she drove through a security checkpoint, he said. The third, "surgeon Talaat Amer was killed while he was at the hospital on Tuesday in a blue surgical gown to perform his duty", Obeid said. © 2025 AFP

News.com.au
4 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
'Mass grave': Medics appeal for aid at last working hospital in Syria's Sweida
In the last barely-functional hospital in Sweida, bodies are overflowing from the morgue, staff said, amid violence that has wracked the Druze-majority southern Syrian city for nearly a week. "It's not a hospital anymore, it's a mass grave," said Rouba, a member of the medical staff at the city's sole government hospital, weeping as she appealed for aid. Dr Omar Obeid, who heads the Sweida division at Syria's Order of Physicians, said the facility has received "more than 400 bodies since Monday morning", including women, children and the elderly. "There's no more space in the morgue, the bodies are out on the street" in front of the hospital, he continued. Fighting erupted Sunday night between Druze fighters and local Bedouin tribes before Syrian government forces intervened on Tuesday with the stated intention of quelling the violence. But in the subsequent events, those government forces were accused of grave abuses against the minority, according to rights organisations, witnesses and Druze groups. The government forces withdrew from the city on Thursday following threats from Israel, which has vowed to protect the Druze. In the hospital on Friday, corridors were engulfed by the stench of the dead bodies, which had bloated beyond recognition, an AFP correspondent said. Visibly overwhelmed, the handful of medical personnel remaining at the facility nonetheless rushed to do their best to offer care to the seemingly endless stream of wounded, many of them waiting in the hallways. "There are only nine doctors and medical staff left, and they are working nonstop," said Rouba, who preferred not to give her full name. - 'No water, no electricity' - "The situation is very bad, we have no water and no electricity, medicines are starting to run out," Rouba continued. "There are people who have been at home for three days and we can't manage to rescue them," she said. "The bodies are on the streets and no one can go out to get them. Yesterday, five big cars filled with bodies arrived at the hospital. "There are women, children, people whose identities are unknown, cut-off arms or legs." The United Nations on Friday urged an end to the bloodshed, demanding "independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations". According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the violence has claimed the lives of nearly 600 people since Sunday. Omar Obeid told AFP that three of his colleagues were killed, including one who was "shot dead in his house, in front of his family". Another was killed at point-blank range in her car as she drove through a security checkpoint, he said. The third, "surgeon Talaat Amer was killed while he was at the hospital on Tuesday in a blue surgical gown to perform his duty", Obeid said. "They shot him in the head. Then they called his wife and told her: your husband was wearing a surgical cap -- it's red now." at/jsa/dcp