Influential figures and those having patr*onage excluded | “Cold surg*eries” on hold in Damascus University’s maternity hospital due to lack of fuels

Damascus province: SOHR sources have reported that the university maternity hospital in the capital, Damascus, has announced the suspension of “cold surgeries” to further notice, where work in the hospital has been confined to first aid and emergency cases only. This coincides with the worsening fuel crisis in Damascus in light of the acute shortage of diesel.

 

The hospital is known for carrying out first aid, natural gynaecology, caesarian delivery and fast surgeries, while “cold surgeries,” the surgeries which require maintaining patients under observation in intensive care units for long time after being conducted, have been suspended because of the unavailability of diesel needed for powering the hospital’s generators, especially since intensive care units need electricity and heating.

 

Speaking to SOHR, a nurse working in the hospital has said that this type of surgeries have been suspended for the locals, while the hospital still conduct cold surgeries for influential figures, their children and those who have patronage from officers and officials. The nurse has confirmed that the administration of the hospital steal amounts of diesel allocated to the hospital, claiming that reason behind the latest decision is manifested in the fuel crisis and lack of diesel.

 

Most of areas controlled by regime forces have been struggling with stifling fuel crisis for days, which badly impacted the daily activity in those areas and led to inflation and poor purchasing power, as well as suspension of work in many governmental institutions.