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Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations

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Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations
Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux
AbbreviationUOSSM
Formation2012
TypeNGO
PurposeHumanitarian Healthcare
International Chair
Ghanem Tayara
Websitehttps://www.uossm.org/

The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (usually known by the acronym of their French name Union des Organisations de Secours et Soins Médicaux, UOSSM[1]) is a humanitarian non-governmental organization that provides healthcare in rebel-held areas of North West Syria.[1][2]

History

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UOSSM was founded by group of expatriate Syrian doctors in 2012[3] and later grew into an international organization.[4] As of 2015, it had an annual budget of USD$18 million.[1]

UOSSM has offices in eight countries,[1] including USA, Canada, and France.[3][5]

Medical activities

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UOSSM provide free medical care and equipment to 113 Syrian healthcare facilities.[3][1] Services provided by UOSSM include primary health care, pediatrics, gynecology and reproductive health services, general and internal medicine, nutrition, community health, pharmacy, vaccinations,[6] and intensive care.[7]

Four UOSSM hospitals use telemedicine.[8] Since 2016, the organization has used 480 solar panels to partly (30% to 40%) power a hospital,[9][10] as well as an electric vehicle to deliver vaccines.[11]

Advocacy

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In 2020, UOSSM called for more international support for healthcare organizations in Syria, and reported on COVID-19 cases overwhelming hospital facilities.[12]

In 2017 and 2018, the organization shared news of chemical gas attacks in Syria.[13][14]

Main article: Khan Shaykhun chemical attack
Main article: Douma chemical attack

In 2018, UOSSM called for the international community to provide food aid and shelter to Syrians.[15]

Hospital attacks

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In 2016, four UOSSM staff were killed in Aleppo when airstrikes hit two ambulances.[16][4]

Eighty-five of their hospitals were attacked in 2020.[3] They have blamed Russian and Syrian government forces for attacks.[17][18]

Key people

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  • Ghanem Tayara MD, Chair, UOSSM International[19]
  • Anas Al-Kassem MD, Founder, UOSSM Canada[1][2]
  • Ziad Alissa MD, director of UOSSM France[3][16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Chowdhry, Affan (2015-12-23). "Canadian surgeon risks his life to help Syrians caught in civil war". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  2. ^ a b "Doctors should not be used as weapons of war: says Nott in Oakville". InsideHalton.com. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Lives Lost: Doctor chose to stay, work in war-torn Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  4. ^ a b "Syria air raid kills four medical workers near Aleppo". the Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  5. ^ Cole, Diane (2019-06-03). "How To Do Brain Surgery In A War Zone". NPR. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  6. ^ "Nearly 83,000 Syrian people in Ariha experiencing severe shortages in medical sector". Enab Baladi. 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  7. ^ Giovannetti, Justin (2016-11-25). "Meet the Edmonton doctor saving lives in Syria". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  8. ^ "How webcams are helping Canadian doctors save lives in Syria". CTVNews. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  9. ^ "Solar power for Syria". www.power-technology.com. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  10. ^ Brooks, Cholo. "Canadian medical aid group sets up solar powered hospital after years of work – Global News Network". Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  11. ^ "Ponen a prueba vehículo eléctrico para atención sanitaria en zonas de guerra". Forbes México (in Mexican Spanish). 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  12. ^ "The Latest: Rebel-held NW Syria facing unprecedented surge". The Independent. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  13. ^ "83 people, including 25 children, reportedly killed in Syria gas attack". NBC News. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  14. ^ "Dozens dead in 'one of worst chemical strikes in Syrian history'". Sky News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  15. ^ "Flooding displaces thousands of refugees in northern Syria - National | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  16. ^ a b "Four Medics Killed in Strike on Clinic near Syria's Aleppo". Naharnet. September 21, 2016. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  17. ^ "Canadian-run hospital in Syria 'completely destroyed'". CTVNews. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  18. ^ "Health care in Syria 'weaponized' by gov't forces, Russian allies: report". CTVNews. 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  19. ^ "Airstrike destroys Syrian cave hospital built under 18 metres of solid rock". CBC. 1 Feb 2018.
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