Field Health Clinic Bombed In Iraq
By Doctors For Iraq
31 August, 2005
Countercurrents.org
Doctors for Iraq has received reports from medical staff in Al Qaim hospital, western Iraq that a field clinic in Al Karablaa village situated on the borders of Al Qaim has been bombed.
Two medical staff have been injured in the attack on the field clinic. Hospital staff and eyewitnesses report of many casualties from the military operation on Al Qaim city. Reports are coming in of at least fifty dead including some women and children.
Doctors For Iraq is trying to check and verify this information, which is proving difficult because the military attack is still ongoing.
Doctors For Iraq is deeply concerned about the medical humanitarian situation in the area. Medical staff in Al Qaim report that the electricity supply to the hospital has been cut. Doctors are unable to move inside the area because of the ongoing military operation. The manager of Al Qaim general hospital has closed the hospital temporarily because of the unsafe conditions in the area. Doctors set up a filed clinic in the village of Al Kararblaa, which has been bombed.
Doctors are finding it difficult to reach the areas under attack. Medical personal have told Doctors for Iraq that they fear many casualties are trapped under debris and rubble in the area.
Eyewitness say that a missile struck a house in Al Qaim reducing the house to rubble and at least three families are buried under the rubble of the destroyed house.
This attack is the latest in a number of military operations in the west of Iraq in the last few weeks.
Doctors For Iraq is calling for the immediate end to military attacks and targeting of civilians and medical staff.
Doctors for Iraq urges the military to preserve medical neutrality and protect medial units and staff against military attacks.
Doctors for Iraq is urging humanitarian medical organisations to organise urgent aid to the area.
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