Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Attacks Prevent Displaced in Syria's Idlib from Getting Health Care

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA - The World Health Organization says tens of thousands of
   displaced people in northwestern Syria's Idlib province are unable to
   get health care, because fighting has put dozens of health facilities
   out of commission and created shortages of medicine and medical
   supplies.

   Nearly one million civilians are camped out near the border with Turkey
   under horrific conditions. Intensified shelling and airstrikes by
   Russian-backed Syrian forces trying to retake Idlib in northern Syria
   from rebel groups has sent people fleeing for their lives.

   But they do not have anywhere to go. Turkey will not open its borders
   to them, leaving them stranded close to the area where the bombing is
   taking place. World Health Organization spokesman Christian Lindmeier
   told VOA shelter is scarce, exposing people to the harsh elements.

   "Nearly 170,000 newly displaced people are estimated to be sleeping out
   in the open... which has been exposing at least 100,000 children to
   temperatures close to zero degrees," Lindmeier said.

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