A doctor providing aid in Syria on behalf of a Salford-based charity has died in the 7.8 earthquake that hit the region yesterday.

Langworthy-based Syria Relief’s parent charity Action for Humanity said one of its women doctors and their child had died in the disaster.

More than 5,000 people have died in the series of quakes across Turkey and Syria, with many more unaccounted for.

The doctor, not yet named, was working in Idlib providing medical aid in one of the charity’s mobile health clinics.

Othman Moqbel, the CEO of Action for Humanity, paid tribute to her.

He said: “She was a doctor who was motivated with saving the lives of people impacted by the crisis in Syria. Sadly, she has lost her life.”

Syria Relief is the UK’s largest Syria-focused humanitarian aid organisation, and with Action for Humanity has assisted more than 3.5 million people in the Middle East.

Damage as a result of the Earthquake in Aleppo, Syria. Credit: BBC News Youtube channel

Mr Moqbel continued: “We are launching a full scale emergency campaign to help support those displaced and injured, as well as the health systems and infrastructure everyone needs.

“With so many people displaced and the winter weather deteriorating, we are in a race against time to help people.

“Virtually every village in war-torn and poverty-stricken Syria has been impacted. This is an emergency of an unimaginable scale.”

Donations to assist relief efforts in Turkey and Syria as a result of the earthquake can be made via the website.

 

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