Something must be done

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Published on Wednesday, 17 August 2016 14:15
Written by editor
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Petitioning Angela Merkel

Obama & Merkel: Please act to save our lives in Aleppo

Petition by Dr. Hamza Al Khatib Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic 84,155 Supporters Sign Dr. Hamza's petition

I am one of the very last doctors serving the remaining 300,000 citizens of eastern Aleppo.

Atrocities are being committed every day. The Syrian regime and Russian aircraft are systematically targeting civilians and hospitals across the city.

In the last week, I have written to both President Obama and Chancellor Merkel calling for their help. The United States and Germany have influence in the international corridors of power and I asked them to use their influence to help us. But their response is the same as it has been for the past five years: from Merkel we heard silence and from the White House our letter was met with yet another tepid condemnation - but no talk of action.

We have seen no real effort from President Obama or Chancellor Merkel to prevent the criminal attacks against civilians and our hospitals.

That is why I've started this petition. Obama and Merkel are not listening to my voice alone. Will you join me and make a call so loud they can’t ignore us?

For five years, we have borne witness as countless patients, friends and colleagues suffered violent, tormented deaths. For five years, the world has stood by and remarked how ‘complicated’ Syria is, while doing little to protect us.

Last month there were 42 attacks on medical facilities in Syria, 15 of which were hospitals in which my colleagues and I work. At this rate, our medical services in Aleppo could be completely destroyed in a month, leaving 300,000 people to die.

What pains me and my fellow doctors the most is choosing who will live and who will die. Young children are sometimes brought into our emergency rooms so badly injured that we have to prioritise those with better chances, or simply don’t have the equipment to help them. A few weeks ago, four newborn babies gasping for air suffocated to death after a blast cut the oxygen supply to their incubators. Their lives ended before they had really begun.

Despite the horror, we choose to be here. We took a pledge to help those in need. We have a duty to remain and help. All we ask now is for Obama and Merkel to do their duty, too.

We do not need their tears or sympathy or even prayers, we them to act. We need them to prove that they are the friends of Syrians.

Please join us in our call. Ask Obama and Merkel to save the people of Aleppo.

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