Lashkar-Gah, Afghanistan. EMERGENCY: “Hospitals Are Not A Target”.

LASHKAR-GAH, AFGHANISTAN.

EMERGENCY: “HOSPITALS ARE NOT A TARGET”.

STAFF: “WE ARE WORKING NON-STOP”

“We are receiving wounded patients. We ask all parties to respect this facility and ensure it is not put in danger. HOSPITALS ARE NOT A TARGET!”

An EMERGENCY leaflet addressed to all combatants has been translated into Dari, Pashto and English and shows an aerial photo of the hospital’s location with GPS coordinates. It is being distributed on the streets of Lashkar-Gah and on social media channels, requesting that the hospital is respected as fighting continues in the city.

“The fighting is right outside and we had to move patients to the most protected areas of the hospital, away from the windows. Local and international staff are working tirelessly to keep the hospital running and to offer treatment to the victims – all of them, without distinction,” says Viktor Urosevic, Medical Coordinator of the hospital in Lashkar-Gah.

EMERGENCY sincerely thanks all local and international staff who, despite the risks to their personal safety that they have been experiencing for days, have decided to stay and treat the victims of this conflict with dedication and a great sense of responsibility.

Since the beginning of the year, 2,523 patients have been admitted to EMERGENCY’s Surgical Centre for War Victims in Lashkar-Gah with war injuries, 691 of whom were under 18.

EMERGENCY has been present in Afghanistan since 1999 with two Surgical Centres for War Victims in Kabul and Lashkar-Gah, a Surgical & Paediatric Centre and a Maternity Centre in Anabah, Panshir Valley, and a network of 44 First Aid Posts.

EMERGENCY is an independent, neutral organisation, founded in 1994 to offer free, high-quality medical and surgical treatment to victims of war, landmines and poverty. Since then EMERGENCY has treated over 11 million people: one every minute. EMERGENCY promotes a culture of peace, solidarity and respect for human rights.

EMERGENCY’s work is made possible thanks to the contribution of individuals, companies, foundations, international organisations and some of the governments of the countries we work in.