Go to Syrian American Medical Society

“We represent a last hope, the final defenders of life in this city. But we are also among the fallen. We have all lost medical brothers and sisters to barrel bombs and missile strikes, but we keep on working through the night,” 

          – Dr. Abo El Ezz, SAMS Aleppo Coordinator
                                                                                                                      

The humanitarian crisis, already unmatched in its scale, has reached a tipping point as Aleppo is bombarded and encircled. Since the beginning of June 2016, eastern Aleppo City has been under siege. The airstrikes, barrel bombs, and shelling of Castello Road, the only humanitarian corridor in and out of the eastern part of the city, have become increasingly intense, and the road has become so dangerous to travel that it is effectively closed. Vehicles are being targeted by heat-seaking missiles. The situation in Aleppo is an emergency that must be met with urgent action from the international community.

As of October 2016, only five hospitals remain operational in besieged Aleppo to care for a population of 300,000 civilians, including more than 85,000 children. There remain only 29 doctors to treat the overwhelming number of wounded. Since the collapse of the ceasefire in September, over 1,700 airstrikes killed more than 550 people and wounded over 1,500, many of them children. SAMS’s largest trauma hospital was targeted five times in one week, forcing it to close. Physicians for Human Rights has documented 382 attacks on medical facilities that have killed 757 medical personnel since the start of the conflict in 2011.

 #AleppoIsBurning

twitter2

Hospitals, markets, schools, and other civilian infrastructure continue to be targeted and destroyed in Aleppo. The people of Aleppo  are facing daily bloodbaths.

In an effort to provide both medical personnel and patients with needed security and safety, and through its Save Aleppo Campaign, SAMS is asking for your generous support to raise funds to move one of the few remaining and vulnerable main hospitals in eastern Aleppo to an underground safe location.

The situation in Aleppo is an emergency that must be met with urgent action from the international community and the U.S. government.

Take these 5 actions now for Aleppo and its people:
 
1. Call, write to, or meet with your Member of Congress. Tell them to reach out to the U.S. administration immediately.
Find your Member of Congress’ and Senators’ contact information here. Send them an email, and feel free to use this letter as a template – all you have to do is copy-paste. Call their office, and use these talking points to guide your message. We are calling for all Members of Congress to raise the alarm about Aleppo by (1) making a floor speech about Aleppo and the need for urgent U.S. action to protect Syrian civilians and humanitarians (2) meeting with State Department and White House/ National Security Council officials, calling for the U.S. administration to push Russia and the Syrian government to fully and urgently uphold the cessation of hostilities.
 
2. Reach out to the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) stakeholders.
Reach out to critical ISSG stakeholders, particularly the U.S. and Russia, and urge them to ensure that the cessation of hostilities is upheld through Syria, including Aleppo. Use these talking points to help guide your call.
 
White House: (202) 456-1111
 
Russian Embassy: (202) 298-5700
 
3. Place local media.
 Write a letter to a local newspaper about the crisis in Aleppo and mention the name of your Congressperson and/or Senator. Feel free to use SAMS’s op-ed template and reach out to SAMS Advocacy Associate, Natasha Kieval, at natasha.kieval@sams-usa.net for personal assistance with op-ed drafting and media outreach.
 
4. Raise awareness through social media.
  • Our partners have compiled social media graphics in this folder – make sure to share online.
  • Join thousands and #MakeFacebookRed: change your Facebook profile picture to a red picture to stand with the thousands of civilians in Aleppo who are facing aerial attacks and violence each day.
  • Tweet! Here are some sample tweets:

– More than 80 int’l & Syrian NGOs have called on @POTUS and @PutinRF_ENG to help #SaveSyriaCeasefire http://bit.ly/1WXuVLx #AleppoIsBurning

– 200+ Syrians have been killed in past week. @POTUS & @PutinRF_Eng must reinforce the ceasefire #AleppoIsBurning

– Attacks on hospitals are a war crime. Doctors & civilians must be protected. #SaveSyriaCeasefire #AleppoIsBurning

– Over 48 hours, 1 #Syria’n has been killed every 25 minutes. This boy’s brother was one of them. #SaveSyriaCeasefire

5. Join or hold a vigil.
Join one of the powerful vigils happening around the U.S. and around the world, as people wear red clothes to stand in solidarity with Aleppo and the civilians, rescue workers, and doctors who are paying the ultimate price.
Privacy Policy