First responder: Last major north Aleppo hospital destroyed by Russian airstrike

A Russian airstrike reportedly knocked out of service the last major hospital in rebel-held northern Aleppo out of commission last week, killing a doctor, a patient and wounding dozens more.

The Andan Charitable Hospital, founded in early 2013, had specialists from all fields on staff, from orthopedic surgeons to dermatologists, performing complex surgeries and providing medicine to residents of the northern Aleppo countryside, Adnan Mudlij, a first responder with the hospital and member of the pro-opposition Andan Media Center, tells Syria Direct’s Alaa Nassar.

With the Andan Charitable Hospital no longer able to provide care, residents must make the trip 50km north to clinics along the Turkish border.

“There is no other alternative for treatment.”

Q: What areas did the Andan Charitable Hospital serve and what services did it provide?

The Andan Charitable Hospital served most areas in the northern Aleppo countryside by providing surgeries and medicine.

The hospital had an intensive care unit, a laboratory, X-ray machines, and specialists in all types of fields—cardiology, orthopaedic surgery, general surgery, gynecology, internal medicine, ear nose and throat and dermatology.

Q. What was the extent of the damage from the strikes?

The Andan Charitable Hospital was bombed several times previously but wasn’t knocked out of service. This time it was, after being hit directly by a Russian airstrike that destroyed equipment, ambulances, gates, water and electricity lines. Two people were killed, including a doctor and a 10-year-old child who was receiving treatment at the hospital. Four other staff members, and 20 patients were injured.

Q: What does this mean for the residents of the north Aleppo countryside?

The seriously wounded were moved to Turkey. The rest of the patients and those with light injuries were moved to hospitals near the Turkish border.

The hospital was the only major hospital operational in the northern countryside apart from the Azaz National Hospital and the Baghdad Hospital in Hreitan, both of which were knocked out of service because of similar Russian airstrikes.

It’s worth noting that the clinics located along the Turkish border are 50km away from Andan, and there is currently no alternative for treatment for residents of the northern countryside.